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Thursday, November 23, 2006
2 suspected robbers killed in gunfight with cops
By Albert B. Lacanlale
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Two suspected robbers were killed while four others were wounded after they engaged policemen of this city in a gunfight in Barangay San Agustin on Wednesday.
Those killed were identified only as Joseph Pepito and a certain Ka Abe. Wounded were Joseph Boreo, Marcelino Dawa, Cesar Pestano, and a certain Sergeant Detablan, the alleged leader of the group.
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The suspects had just pulled off a robbery in a Union Bank branch in Barangay San Agustin, carting away an undetermined sum of money, a report said.
San Fernando Police officer-in-charge Audie Atienza, who recently vowed to run after robbers victimizing banks in the city, said the incident happened at 1 p.m. Wednesday along McArthur Highway.
Alerted about the robbery, police had set up roadblocks along major roads.
A police team stationed some 100 meters north of the bank blocked the road with a vehicle. They were forced to fire at the suspects when they showed no signs of stopping at the roadblock.
The suspects put up a fight and fired at policemen, who were nevertheless able to subdue and arrest the robbers.
The four wounded suspects were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
10-minute heist
Provincial Police Director Leonardo Espina went to Union Bank branch on Wednesday and talked with the managers and employees about the incident.
Espina said two of the robbers first went inside the bank and disarmed and ordered the security guard to lie face down under a table.
When the guard was subdued, one of the suspects went inside the bank and ordered the tellers to give him the money.
The heist lasted for 10 minutes, according to Espina, with the robbers leaving without even attempting to open the bank's vaults.
The police were able to recover the firearms used in the heist, as well as the money that was taken from the bank.
As of Wednesday afternoon, police have yet to determine the total amount of the loot taken from the bank.
Mayor Oscar Rodriguez, who responded to the scene with Councilors Ruperto Dumlao and Jaime Lazatin, was all praises for the city police.
"This is proof that our police are doing their jobs to keep our streets free from lawless elements," he said.
Rodriguez immediately dispatched emergency response teams to attend to the wounded robbers. He hoped the incident would serve as a warning to criminals to stay out of the city. (Sun.Star Pampanga/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Dumaguete. (November 23, 2006 issue)
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