Church watch: Robbers killed in Quezon City shootout

The city police are keeping a tighter watch on churches after two suspected motorcycle thieves were killed in another shootout at past midnight yesterday in Quezon City.

The male suspects were killed moments after they allegedly forcibly took away a motorcycle at a bus terminal.

Quezon City Police District director Senior Superintendent Magtanggol Gatdula identified the suspects as Rodelio Villas-Salvador, 39; and Elorde Salvador-Belen, 38. They were identified through their community tax certificates and a driver’s license. The suspects were gunned down during a shootout with operatives of the QCPD’s Anti-Carnapping Section led by Inspector Angelo Nicolas along Scout Limbaga Road near the Sacred Heart Parish Church in Barangay Sacred Heart.

QCPD Intelligence Division chief Superintendent Bernabe Balba said their early morning patrol in connection with the traditional Simbang Gabi is focused more on the vicinities of the churches, especially the bigger parishes in the city. Tuesday early morning, three suspected robbers were killed after victimizing passengers of a jeepney near Sto. Domingo Church.

Before the shootout yesterday, the suspects, carrying a .38 caliber revolver and a Magnum .357 handgun, forcibly took away the motorcycle (EG-3870) from owner Christopher Gayuma at a bus terminal along Edsa near the corner of Kamuning Road. Gayuma quickly reported the incident to the nearby QCPD-Station 10.

An alarm was sent out to different units until operatives of the QCPD-ANCAR spotted the vehicle along Kamuning Road going towards the direction of Timog Avenue.

Policemen chased the suspects and when they were about to be cornered, the suspects got off the vehicle and opened fire instead of surrendering to the police.

According to Balba, it was possible that the suspects were not to sell the motorycle but instead use it as a get-away vehicle for their robbery-holdup or snatching activities.