2 rob suspects killed in Las Piñas

Two men were killed in an encounter with police officers after they attempted to rob the passengers of a Toyota Revo along the Alabang-Zapote Road in Las Piñas City yesterday morning.

The police identified the slain suspects as Allan Villanueva Jr. and Ronelo Naqua. Their companion, William Fabilonia, was reported to be in critical condition at the Perpetual Help Hospital.

Chief Inspector Rey Garduque of the Las Piñas police intelligence division, said that at around 10:45 a.m., a team of policemen spotted four or five suspects on two Honda Wave motorcycles block the Toyota Revo.

When the policemen approached, the suspects shot at them, triggering a shootout.

One of the suspects ran to the nearby Land Transportation Office branch and tried to take three people hostage. The policemen cornered the suspect, who was among those killed.

The police refused to divulge the name of a fourth suspect, known only as “Matar,” who was arrested during the shootout. Garduque said they are still checking if Matar is really part of the group.

The authorities recovered two motorcycles, a machine pistol, a .45 caliber pistol and a .38 caliber revolver used by the suspects.

Acting Las Piñas police chief Senior Superintendent John Sosito said it is possible that the suspects were following one of the passengers, who could have withdrawn a large amount of money from a bank.