Bulacan shootout leaves 2 rob suspects dead

MALOLOS, Philippines – Two suspected members of a robbery group were killed in a shootout with police officers in Marilao, Bulacan before dawn yesterday.

Police said one of the suspects was wearing a black T-shirt and a pair of camouflage short pants. The suspect had a “Sputnik” tattoo on the right leg and was between 30 to 35 years old and about 5’2” to 5’4” tall.

The shootout occurred at around 2:15 a.m. along Lamp street in Barangay Lias, a report reaching provincial police director Senior Superintendent Ferdinand Divina said.

Village officials called up the police when a resident complained about the presence of three unidentified men in the area.

Reports said the men fled toward Lamp street in Meralco village when they spotted the responding officers approaching them on Quartz street.

One of the gunmen reportedly shot at the officers, triggering a firefight that left two of the suspects dead. The other managed to escape.

Probers recovered a loaded .38 caliber revolver, three plastic sachets said to contain shabu and bullet shells at the scene of the encounter. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe