MANAOAG, Pangasinan – Four suspected carnappers who also robbed a gasoline station at dawn yesterday were killed in a shootout in Barangay Pao.
PCI Dave Mahilum, chief of police of Manaoag police identified those killed as Rodrigo Batucan, 49 years old and a resident of Olongapo, Edwin Ignacio, 41 of Bataan, Tommy Miranda, 41 of Laguna, and one unidentified suspect. All four were declared dead on arrival in a nearby hospital.
The suspect were on board a carnapped white Mitsubishi FB van with plate number PIX 956 which initially traversed Perez street in Dagupan City when a concerned citizen reportedly saw the suspects change the plate number of the same vehicle.
Mahilum then ordered a checkpoint to verify the dubious actions of the suspect but before this happened, police received a robbery report from an employee of the nearby Centrum Gas Station which was staged by the same suspects.
Minutes later the van of the same suspects sped through the checkpoint that led to a brief chase.
A shootout ensued resulting in the death of all four suspects.
Several firearms were reportedly recovered from the carnappers during an initial investigation at the crime scene.
(LIEZLE BASA IÑIGO)