SIX suspected members of a robbery gang believed to be operating in Pampanga and other areas in Central Luzon were gunned down by police in separate incidents in Apalit and Bacolor towns Thursday, June 13, 2019.

Police Colonel Jean Fajardo, director of the Pampanga Provincial Police Office (PPO), said four were killed in Apalit town while two were killed in a separate shootout in Bacolor town.

The four men slain in the Apalit shootout have yet to be identified.

Fajardo said the suspects barged inside an Alfamart branch in Barangay San Vicente, Apalit and announced a hold-up at gunpoint. They fled after taking the money from the cashier’s booth.

Fajardo said the perpetrators fled in a red Toyota Innova (NCF 409) towards Macabebe area. A hot pursuit ensued until the group was cornered along Timoteo Road, Sitio Dudurut-Paligue in Barangay Colgante at past 4 a.m. Thursday.

Fajardo said the men from the Innova fired at the policemen, prompting the lawmen to retaliate. All four occupants of the vehicle were killed.

Recovered from the scene were two units of caliber .45 pistol, one unit of caliber 9-mm pistol and cash.

Police Brigadier General Joel Napoleon Coronel, Police Regional Office Central Luzon (PRO-3) director, identified the two slain suspects in Bacolor as Ariel Moguil, a resident of Mabalite Tadian, Mountain Province; and Dexter Tinguey, 21, of Bermuda Hills, Barangay San Carlos, Baguio City.

In a report, Coronel said that prior to the incident, the victims identified as Edmer Rosillo and Airna Estrabillo, both cashiers of a gasoline station located in Barangay Sta. Ines, Bacolor, were robbed by four unidentified armed men on board a Toyota Hi-Lux pick up (XTF-628) and a Yamaha Mio motorcycle.

The victims immediately reported the robbery to the police.

Joint operatives of Pampanga Provincial Mobile Force Company and Bacolor Police were dispatched and they intercepted the pick-up truck along Pasig Potrero dike access road in Barangay Cabetican.

A brief firefight ensued, resulting in the killing on the spot of the two suspects.

Two other suspects, who were on aboard the motorcycle, were able to escape, Coronel said.

The report said the suspects carted away cash amounting to P5,000 and one Oppo cellular phone.

Recovered from the suspects were a caliber .45 with five bullets, a caliber .22 revolver with two bullets, three spent shells for caliber .45 and nine spent shells for .9mm, a metallic fragment, four sachets of shabu, two cellphones and PHP2,4220.00.

An unidentified gunman was also killed at a checkpoint in Barangay San Joaquin, Sta. Ana, Pampanga on Tuesday.

The report said the suspect, on board a Yamaha RS100T, did not stop when flagged down by police operatives.

A hot pursuit operation was conducted that resulted in an exchange of gunfire.

Recovered from the slain suspect were a caliber .38, a fan knife, three sachets of shabu and the motorcycle. (With a report from Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo/SunStar Philippines)