Suspects in murder of Mimaropa officer killed

MANILA, Philippines - Two suspects in the robbery-slaying of a woman finance officer of the Mimaropa police in April were shot dead yesterday in an alleged encounter with policemen in Bay town, in Laguna.

Calabarzon police director Chief Superintendent Perfecto Palad said the suspects ignored the checkpoint of the Regional Mobile Group in Los Baños town and engaged pursuing policemen in a shootout instead of surrendering.

“We made every effort to bring them into our custody but they choose to fight their way out by engaging my men in a shootout which led to their death,” said Palad in an interview.

The Calabarzon police chief identified one of the slain suspects as Meliton Gatdula.

Gatdula was an associate of another suspect, Marlon Malacaman, one of those charged in the robbery-slaying of Senior Inspector Loduvina Ginauli, the finance officer of the Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan (Mimaropa) police sometime in April.

Ginauli and a companion have just withdrawn P4.5 million from a bank in Calamba, Laguna and were on their way back to Mimaropa police headquarters when armed men blocked their path and opened fire.

Ginauli was killed in the process and the robbers took a black bag containing the money and escaped.

Palad said the money was intended for salaries and clothing allowance of non-uniformed personnel and fresh recruits of the Mimaropa police.

The suspects, riding in tandem on a motorcycle, disregarded the RMG checkpoint along Los Baños town at about 2:20 a.m. yesterday.

The Los Baños police called the attention of their colleagues in Bay town, who immediately set up checkpoint operations along Puypuy national highway to intercept the suspects.

However, the suspects ignored the Bay police, who together with elements of RMG and intelligence group of the Calabarzon police, gave chase.

The suspects were cornered in Sitio Sampalucan in Barangay Masaya in Bay town but instead of surrendering they choose to shoot it out with the lawmen.

The slain suspects yielded a .45 caliber automatic pistol and a .38 caliber revolver.

Palad said they recovered several pieces of identification cards from the suspects and one of them was later identified as Gatdula. The other suspect, remained unidentified.

The recovered firearms were brought to the firearms and explosive division in Camp Crame to determine its owners.

Palad said the motorcycle used by the suspects was stolen in Calamba City a few days back. Its owner claimed the motorcycle yesterday from the Bay police. – With Arnell Ozaeta, Ed Amoroso, Dennis Carcamo and Cecille Suerte Felipe