2 rob suspects slain, cop hurt in Manila shootouts

MANILA, Philippines — Two suspected robbers were killed while a policeman was wounded in two related shootouts in Manila Wednesday night.

Lt. Col. Reynaldo Magdaluyo identified the suspects as Antonio Yap, 45, and Rodel Vicente, 33.

Cpl. Edgil Bombase, assigned to the Manila Police District Station 3, was reported to be in critical condition at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center.

Magdaluyo said Bombase’s left kidney had to be removed while his liver and diaphragm were badly damaged.

A concerned citizen alerted police that a robbery was taking place along Blumentritt street at around 10 p.m., prompting Capt. Kherwin Evangelista to order Bombase and Cpls. Alvin Galicia and Micah David Patricio to check out the report.

The three policemen saw no robbery along Blumentritt but Bombase was informed that several armed men were spotted at the corner of T. Mapua and Antipolo streets.

The armed men fired at Bombase as he was alighting from his motorcycle. Galicia and Patricio shot it out with the suspects and killed Vicente, Magdaluyo said.

Another suspect, later identified as Yap, escaped. Magdaluyo ordered a dragnet to catch the suspect, who was killed in an alleged shootout with operatives from the Alvarez police community precinct.

Investigators recovered from the scene of the first shootout a .22 caliber revolver, said to belong to Vicente; several sachets said to contain shabu; 26 capsules believed to be drug enhancers; drug paraphernalia; a bracelet and necklace; a Samsung tablet and P130,400 cash.

Police also recoverd a 9mm handgun and several bullets from Yap, who was released from prison in October after serving time for robbery.