Rob suspect slain in Sampaloc shootout

MANILA, Philippines - A man who allegedly robbed a commuter in Sampaloc, Manila yesterday was killed in a shootout with a responding policeman.

The still unidentified man was described to be between 40 and 45 years old, 5’4” tall, slim and with a regular haircut. Scene of the Crime Operatives recovered a .38 caliber homemade revolver with four bullets near the suspect’s body, which lay at the corner of Piy Margal and A.H. Lacson streets.

Police said Hannah Acosta, 26, was waiting for a ride when the man took her bag at gunpoint. She said she ran after the robber, shouting for help, which caught the attention of a police patrol team, Police Officers 2 Reynaldo Olivo and Benito Casauay of the Sampaloc police station.

The policemen gave chase but the armed man reportedly shot at them. Olivo retaliated, hitting the suspected robber.

Police recovered near the suspect’s body Acosta’s bag and cellular phone. She identified the dead man as the one who robbed her.