2 alleged burglars slain in shootout

MANILA, Philippines - As they failed to destroy the gate’s lock, one of three alleged burglars panicked and accidentally fired his gun while attempting to break into a house in Quezon City before dawn yesterday.

The gunshot alerted policemen patrolling Barangay Mariana and resulted in a gunfight that led to the death of two of the suspects, said Senior Superintendent Richard Albano, director of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD). 

Albano said the two suspects died on the spot following the encounter at past 2 a.m. yesterday.

Superintendent Norberto Babagay, commander of the QCPD Station 11, said the third suspect managed to escape by boarding a tricycle.

According to Babagay, the three suspects were targeting the house of the Damian family, whose members were asleep at that time.

QCPD deputy director for administration Senior Superintendent Joel Pagdilao said the same house had been burglarized twice in the past.

But during what was supposed to be the third burglary, the suspects failed to break into the house, Pagdilao said.

Pagdilao said the suspects’ bolt cutter could not destroy the metal lock.

“Apparently rattled, one of them accidentally fired his gun that hit the glass door,” Babagay said in an interview.

According to Babagay, the policemen were already at an adjacent block and decided to go to the Damian house on 10th street. Upon sensing the arrival of the policemen, the suspects opened fire, resulting in the gun battle.

According to Albano, they recovered from the suspects two .38 caliber revolvers and a bolt cutter. 

Albano said the suspects, estimated to be between 25 and 35 years old, remain unidentified.