CABANATUAN CITY—Three alleged robbers and a top illegal drug pusher were killed in separate anti-criminality operations in this province Saturday.
Supt. Ricardo Villanueva, head of the Provincial Public Safety Company, said a companion of the three slain robbers eluded arrest on board a single motorcycle when his troops, along with members of the local police station led by Senior Inspector Erwin Ferry, town police chief, engaged in a shootout with the gang members along the provincial road in Barangay Mapangpang, Lupao at about 5 p.m. Saturday.
He identified the alleged gang leader as Ronald Ibay, a resident of the municipality, who was among those dead on the spot after a brief chase.
Ibay has a pending carnapping case in connection with the taking of a motorcycle from a poultry worker in nearby Talugtog town, Villanueva said.
Police have yet to establish identities of the two other fatalities as well as the one who escaped who were reportedly from Tarlac province.
Ferry said he sought the help of PPSC in establishing the anti-criminality checkpoint upon receiving a tip off that Ibay’s group was set to operate in the vicinity of Barangay Mapangpang that night.
“When the suspect saw the mobile checkpoint, they tried to escape but was pursued by our troops.” Villanueva said.
The suspects, he said, opened fire at the pursuing lawmen prompting the latter to retaliate which resulted in the killing of the trio.
Recovered from the encounter site were on cal. 45 pistol, one cal. 9mm pistol and and a cal. 38 revolver.
A certain Ayana Ashley Dagdag,21, resident of Barangay Mapangpang sustained minor injuries from a stray bullet on her stomach but was sent home after treatment at the Heart of Jesus Hospital in San Jose City.
In Jaen town, a certain Rex Cabral was killed in an anti-illegal drugs operation in Barangay Sapang at about 7 p.m.Saturday.
Chief Insp. Alexander Aurelio, town police chief, said the suspect who was no.2 in their illegal drugs watch list was declared dead on arrival by physicians at Gonzales Gen. Hospital in nearby town of San Leonardo.
Beside peddling illegal drugs, Aurelio said, Carbral was also into carnapping activities.
Police recovered a cal. 38 revolver, one hand grenade, and a sachet of suspected shabu from the suspect’s possession.