According to Blumentritt (Station 3) Police Station commander Superintendent Danilo Abarzosa, prior to the alleged shootout, his station received a call from a certain Joey Algecera about a robbery aboard a jeepney.
Algecera, reportedly a civilian agent of Task Force Katapat 2 of the Department of the Interior and Local Government was one of the victims of Bartolome’s group.
Algecera said he was on board a Quiapo-bound jeepney when Bartolome and three others boarded it along Quezon Boulevard at about 11:30 p.m. As the jeepney neared Quiapo, the suspects pulled out their guns and announced the holdup. The suspects divested the passengers of their cash, jewelry and cellular phones.
After collecting the passengers’ valuables, the suspects got off the jeepney and ran towards the Central Market. Algecera called the Western Police District-Station 3 and gave the descriptions of the suspects.
Senior Police Officer 3 Elmer Mauricio, Police Officer 3 Neil Valenzuela and Police Officer 3 Efren Flores were dispatched to the scene aboard a tricycle driven by Rowie Carpe, 24.
The police officers tracked the suspects to the vicinity of the New Love Theater in front of the Central Market. However, instead of surrendering, the suspects ran and officers chased them aboard their tricycle.
During the chase, one of the policemen fired a warning shot. Reports said instead of stopping, Bartolome drew his gun and fired at the cops, triggering a shootout. – Mike Frialde