3 rob suspects slain in shootout

MANILA, Philippines - Three alleged robbers were killed in an encounter with policemen who said they saw the suspects rob the passengers of a jeepney in Quezon City before dawn yesterday.

Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Chief Superintendent Mario dela Vega said the items taken by the suspects from the jeepney passengers were recovered following the gun battle.

Superintendent Norberto Babagay, commander of the QCPD Station 11, said a backpack – which contained stolen items like cell phones and wallets with money amounting to P18,000 – was recovered.

Babagay said the three suspects were armed with a .38 caliber revolver, a pen gun and a fan knife.

According to Babagay, the suspects boarded the jeepney at the boundary of Manila and Quezon City at Mabuhay Rotunda at past 1 a.m. The jeepney, driven by Melison Cuntapay, was bound for Cubao from Manila.

Babagay said the suspects robbed five passengers as the jeepney traveled along E. Rodriguez Avenue. A patrol team from the QCPD Station 11 said they saw the incident and tailed the jeepney.

Police officers said the suspects, upon seeing the patrol car following the jeepney, allegedly started shooting at them, triggering a gun battle.

One of the suspects died on the spot while two others died upon arrival at the nearby United Doctors Medical Center. They remain unidentified.