LA TRINIDAD, Benguet December 10 – Three alleged carnappers died after they engaged combined police operatives in a shootout along the Lamut-Shilan national road here shortly after lunch Friday.
However, Police Col. Reynaldo Pasiwen, Provincial Director of the Benguet Provincial Police Office, stated that the slain carnapping suspects are yet to be identified although they are said to be members of a notorious robbery and carnapping group operating in the different parts of Northern Luzon.
The robbery holdup and carnapping suspects were spotted in front of a gasoline station moments after the armed encounter with personnel of the La Trinidad Municipal Police Station, Benguet Provincial Police Office, Police Regional Office in the Cordillera and 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company of the Pamapanga Provincial Police Office.
Intelligence agents and police personnel responded to a tip from concerned citizens on the presence of the armed suspects who were on board a red car in front of a gasoline station in Tomay here.
Upon verification with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the license plate number attached to the red car of the suspects allegedly belongs to another car.
Sensing the arrival of the responding personnel, the suspects opened fire at the law enforcers and sped off towards the direction of Tomay that resulted to the hot pursuit operation.
Other police personnel established a road block at the Lamut-Shilan-Beckel road after being informed of the possible escape route of the suspects and after a few moments, the driver of the alarmed vehicle allegedly lost control of the same causing it to crash into a portion of the road.
Despite being cornered by the police and being warned to yield, the armed suspects tried to scamper in different directions and engaged the law enforcers into a running gun battle.
Two of the suspects died on the spot due to multiple gunshot wounds on the different parts of their bodies while the third suspect was rushed to the Benguet General Hospital (BeGH) but was pronounced dead on arrival by attending physicians.
Pasiwen disclosed that there were no policemen who were hurt in the said shootout that lasted for several minutes.
Police authorities are now ascertaining the identities of the suspects and their possible illegal activities for inclusion in the documentation process of the said incident.
By Dexter A. See
