Three suspected hired killers transporting a summary execution victim died when they shot it out with policemen who tried to stop their car at a checkpoint in Las Piñas City yesterday morning.
Senior Supt. Jemar Modequillo, Las Pinas police chief, said police probers have yet to establish the identities of the slain suspects and that of the “salvage victim” found inside back compartment of their car.
Based on police report, the three suspects on board a gray car (TGB-477) tried to evade a police checkpoint at the corner of Real Street and Naga Road, Pulanglupa Uno, Las Piñas City, at about 1:20 a.m.
Police operatives manning the checkpoint chased the car, but its occupants fired shots at their pursuers.
Modequillo said the cops cornered the car on C-5 Extension corner Coastal Road and engaged the suspects in a shootout.
After the exchange of gunfire, police approached the car and found the three suspects already dead inside.
Modequillo said policemen recovered inside the car a .9mm pistol, a shotgun, one. 38-caliber revolver and plastic sachet of shabu.
When they opened the compartment of the car, the cops found the corpse of a man whose face and hands were wrapped with packaging tape. Beside the body was a placard with markings “TULAK AKO….MAGNANAKAW..WAG TULARAN”, the police official said.
Police investigators suspect that the slain men were on their way to dump the body when they unexpectedly passed through the police checkpoint. (JEAN FERNANDO)