4 Quezon City rob suspects killed in weekend shootouts

MANILA, Philippines - Four men who alleged staged robberies in Novaliches and La Loma districts in Quezon City were killed in encounters with police officers over the weekend.

In Barangay San Agustin in Novaliches, an unidentified man was killed when he and a companion shot it out with police officers at around 9 p.m. Saturday. The slain man’s companion escaped during the shootout.

The two men allegedly robbed Aldwin Valbuena, 25, who works as a collector at a tricycle terminal. He said he lost P4,500, a wristwatch and a silver necklace. Valbuena recovered the items after the encounter.

On Friday night, three men who allegedly robbed the passengers of a jeepney bound for Muñoz market were slain in a gunbattle with policemen as they were about to board a tricycle.

Quezon City Police District Station 1 Superintendent Carlito Feliciano said these three suspects had staged heists in the area and used tricycles as their getaway vehicles.

One of the slain suspects was identified as tricycle driver Marvin de Leon, 24, a resident of Tondo, Manila. Apart from the three who were killed, two other men escaped in a tricycle during the shootout.

Police recovered from the site of the shootout two revolvers and bags taken from the passengers. – Reinir Padua