Four suspected thieves killed in shootout with police in QC

By Ronron
September 6, 2007

Four suspected car thieves were killed in a shootout with policemen Thursday morning in Quezon City.

Supt. Edwin Butacan, spokesman of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Traffic Management Group (TMG), said a policeman and a civilian were also wounded in the incident that happened past 8am along Batasan Road.

Butacan said elements of the TMG-National Capital Region and the Quezon City Anti-Carnapping Unit first spotted the black Toyota Altis (with plate number XEJ-943) that the suspects were riding at around 6am.

The said vehicle was subject of suspicion because its plate number was found out to belong supposedly to a Toyota Rev-o.

“Last September 4, operatives of the TMG-NCR intelligence saw the black Toyota Altis without an LTO (Land Transportation Office) sticker for 2007 while it was parked along Batasan Road… So when they saw it again this morning, they conducted the operation,” Butacan said.

Butacan said that when a police mobile car tried to approach the subject vehicle for questioning, the suspects drove off, sparking a brief chase for about two to three minutes.

But the car bumped a parked PLDT multicab beside the road, leaving the four men aboard it with no choice but to exchange gun fire with the tailing policemen.

Two of the suspects died on the spot, while two others were declared dead on arrival at the Gen. Marval Hospital.

The driver of the PLDT multicab was also hurt due to shrapnel, while TMG personnel SPO4 Leonardo Tecson sustained a gunshot wound to his left wrist. The latter was brought to the PNP General Hospital in Camp Crame for medical treatment.

Butacan said police is still investigating if the four suspects have existing criminal records.

“They are suspected car thieves because one, the plate number of their car belongs to another vehicle; they are armed; and they resisted arrest, they even fought it out with authorities,” Butacan said.

A subsequent check of the TMG revealed that the Altis was reported to have been forcibly taken last February 22, 2004 along Mios Drive in Mendez East, Tagaytay City by two armed men. It’s original plate number is XMJ-622./DMS