TWO alleged notorious members of a gun-for-hire gang were killed in an armed encounter with police operatives in Barangay Sto. Tomas, San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, Wednesday, December 16, 2020.
Colonel Marvin Joe Saro, Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office (Neppo) director, identified the slain suspects as alias Bong and Bigboy, reportedly both known gun-for-hire personalities operating in Nueva Ecija and nearby provinces.
Saro said a joint operation launched by Nueva Ecija Provincial Intelligence Unit-Neppo and Lupao police resulted in an armed encounter with the two suspects.
He said recovered from the crime scene were two home-made calibers .45 pistol, four spent shells for 9mm caliber pistol, three spent shells of caliber .45, a brown Chevrolet TrailBlazer without plate number, and one black and blue Kawasaki Bajaj CT125 motorcycle without plate number.
Saro said the operation against the two suspects was conducted after they received a report that they were spotted in the area.
While the operatives were approaching the area, they were allegedly fired upon by the suspects and a brief firefight ensued, resulting in the slaying of the two, he said.
“As we continue to intensify our aggressive anti-illegal drugs campaign, we also keep on maximizing our anti-criminality efforts especially on motorcycle riding suspects to put a stop if not prevent nefarious activities of these lawless elements,” said Brigadier General Valeriano De Leon, Police Regional Office-Central Luzon director. (Ric Sapnu)