TWO suspected members of a “basag-kotse” gang was killed in a shootout with the police in Barangay Old Balara in Quezon City around 12 a.m. of Tuesday, July 10.
The two fatalities have yet to be identified, said Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Chief Superintendent Joselito Esquivel.
He said the two men engaged policemen in a firefight after they were caught in the act of robbing a vehicle.
Remelito Combis, a ride-sharing service driver, said he was inside his car and parked in front of a convenience store in Capitol Hills, Barangay Old Balara at around 12 midnight when a man, using a hammer, smashed the rear left window of his car.
The man's companion was waiting on board a motorcycle.
Combis said the assailant probably did not see him inside the car because his car's windows are heavily tinted.
The incident resulted in a heated confrontation. Off-duty Police Officer 2 Rino Agader, who was eating inside the convenience store, responded to the altercation.
After introducing himself as a police officer, the assailant allegedly pulled out a gun, fired at him and fled on board the motorcycle.
Agader then sought assistance from police personnel who were then in the area conducting "Oplan Sita", a police campaign to clear the streets of loiterers at night.
A police chase led to a shootout and the killing of the assailants.
Police said they recovered from the two men two caliber 38 revolvers, a hammer and five sachets of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu.
Esquivel said they were still trying to determine whether the two fatalities were part of same gang that included six members who were apprehended in Marikina City on Monday, July 9.
“Inaalam pa natin kung kasama ng mga napatay na suspek ang mga naunana nang nahuli ng QCPD at Marikina City Police na leader ng Batac Robbery Hold-up Group at lima pa nitong miyembro matapos silang ireklamo ng kaparehong modus ng pambabasag ng salamin ng sasakyan para magnakaw ng mga gamit,” he said. (SunStar Philippines)