Five suspected members of a robbery group, including a former Army soldier and three former Marine officers, were killed in an alleged shootout with police in Parañaque City, Monday night.
Police identified the slain suspects as Joseph Candelaria, a former member of the Army; Nazzan Albao; and certain Alenain, Aseras and Cornosa, believed to be former Marine officers.
Prior to the encounter, members of Parañaque City Police District Special Operations Unit (DSOU) arrested Candelaria and Albao for illegal possession of firearms.
The cops told the duo to communicate with their cohorts and set a meetup with them on Macapagal Avenue in Barangay Tambo around 9:15 p.m.
Col. Robin King Sarmiento, Parañaque City police chief, said Alenain, Aseras and Cornosa, upon sensing that they were transacting with authorities, immediately opened fire at the cops.
The police retaliated and killed the trio. Candelaria and Albao were also gunned down when they tried to escape, Sarmiento said.
Police Lt. Bobby Lumiwan was also hit, but he was saved by his bullet-proof vest, Sarmiento added.
Another cohort, who was the driver of the van that the three suspects used, fled onboard the vehicle, Sarmiento said.
Police learned that the suspects were members of the Candelario robbery-holdup group victimizing Chinese Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) workers and also being used as musclemen of loan-sharks’ collectors.
Probers recovered from the crime scene two .45-caliber firearms and one Glock 23 gun. (Joseph Pedrajas)