KILLED. A police investigator inspects the area where six suspected members of a robbery and car theft gang were killed in an encounter with police officers in Antipolo City, Rizal on Thursday (Oct. 14, 2021). Local police said the group’s area of operation includes Calabarzon, Central Luzon and Metro Manila. (Photo courtesy of HPG)
MANILA – Six suspected members of a group engaged in robbery and car theft were killed in a shootout with police officers in Antipolo City early Thursday.
In a statement, Brig. Gen. Alexander Tagum, Highway Patrol Group (HPG) director, said HPG members and operatives of the Rizal Provincial Police Office were conducting anti-crime operations in Antipolo City at around 1:30 a.m. when they chanced upon two motorcycle-riding men who were apparently escorting a private vehicle near a gasoline station in Sitio Boso-Boso in Barangay San Jose.
Tagum said HPG members have been deployed in the area as early as Wednesday night after receiving intelligence reports about the activity of a carnapping and robbery group.
The police officers were about to approach the group when they opened fire at them before speeding off towards Baras town.
This resulted in a car chase and a gun battle as the suspects allegedly fired several times at the pursuing cops.
Some of the policemen immediately set up a checkpoint along Marcos Highway.
The presence of policemen on the suspects' escape route caused one of the suspects to lose control of the motorcycle, resulting in its crash.
Instead of surrendering, the two suspects continued to fire at the policemen which resulted in the brief gun battle.
The encounter resulted in the death of the two riders and four other suspects inside the private car.
Col. Joey Arandia, Antipolo City chief of police, said the six suspects were involved in various illegal activities in Calabarzon, Central Luzon and Metro Manila.
Six guns were recovered from the crime scene while the bodies of the suspects were removed from the road at around 7 a.m. (PNA)
