Three suspected robbers killed in shootout with police in Tondo, Manila

By Ronron
January 10, 2008

Three suspected payroll robbers were killed in a shootout with policemen in Tondo, Manila City on Thursday morning, a police official said.

The incident happened at around 11:30 am near the Delpan Bridge, particularly at the corner of Road 10 and Moriones Street said Supt. Jose Mario Espino, Manila Police Station 2 commander.

Espino said the killed suspects are alleged members of a Navotas-based notorious payroll robbery group that have been operating in said area.

“We knew that this payroll robbery group will strike again so our men were alerted to check all possible escape route of the group. Fortunately, we caught them but they fought back that’s why there was an encounter with policemen,” Espino said in Filipino.

Espino said they found out that the group, which consists of four men who were aboard two motorcycles, apparently was not actually able to attack prior to the shootout.

But he said they are waiting for some complainants to show up to verify this.

“What we know is they are supposed to have an operation in Binondo area. We just don’t know why it did not push through or what happened to their job. But maybe, they were alarmed because we have deployed some personnel near their target establishment,” he said.

No valuables like money were recovered from the slain suspects.

Espino said that after the incident, one suspect died on the spot, two died while being brought to the Gat Andres Bonifacio hospital, and the last one was able to escape aboard a motorcycle.

Espino said the group’s leader, identified as a certain JP, was among the fatalities.

Recovered from the slain suspects at the shooting incident were one caliber 45, two caliber 38, a fan knife, and the other motorcycle.

There was no casualty on the police side, which consists of elements from the Manila Police Station 2 and Manila Police Special Task Group, Espino said.

Espino said the group has been identified as the one responsible for the payroll robbery incident in November last year involving Sulpicio Lines. The suspects were able to cart some P700,000 from said incident.

They were also tagged in the payroll robbery involving United Packers a few months earlier, and the hold-up incident involving an FX taxi on Wednesday night, Espino said./DMS