5 robbery suspects killed in QC shootout

Intelligence operatives of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) killed five heavily armed members of a robbery group in a shootout in Barangay Holy Spirit yesterday afternoon.

Police Inspector Rodel Marcelo of the QCPD District Intelligence Division said one of the suspects was taken to a nearby hospital for gunshot wounds after the shootout that took place at St. Anthony street at 2:30 p.m.

Police said the suspects, believed to be members of the Waray-Waray robbery gang were involved in the killing of a policeman in Payatas last month as well as a series of armed robberies along Commonwealth Avenue and nearby areas.

Marcelo said the encounter was a result of a weeklong surveillance on the hideout of the suspects.

He said six suspects were in a drinking session when a police team, led by Chief Inspector Rodrigo Bauto, arrived in the area. The suspects immediately opened fire at the lawmen.

Five of the suspects were killed on the spot.

Police recovered a caliber .45 handgun, a 9 mm pistol, two caliber .38 revolvers a homemade shotgun.

Marcelo said they were still verifying the identities of the slain suspects.