SEVEN suspected members of a robbery group were killed in a firefight with policemen Monday morning in Agoncillo town, Batangas.
Batangas Provincial Police Office Director Edwin Quilates said based on initial report, the suspected robbers, who were onboard a white van, rammed at the barriers in a Commission on Elections checkpoint in Barangay Berinayan, Laurel town, around 4:30 a.m. Monday, February 25.
Personnel of the Agoncillo Municipal Police Station received a report about the incident, prompting them to immediately establish another checkpoint at the boundary of Agoncillo and Laurel towns.
Quilates said instead of stopping at the checkpoint, the suspected robbers sped off and fired at the policemen, resulting in an encounter.
“A brief chase ensued and [the suspected robbers were] cornered by another patrol team of said [policemen] stationed few meters from the established checkpoint. The suspects fired upon the responding personnel, which prompted the latter to return fire,” he said.
He said the suspected robbers were killed in the gunfight, adding that no cops were hurt in the incident.