TWO alleged motorcycle thieves were killed in a shootout with policemen inside an abandoned house in Novaliches, Quezon City, Wednesday afternoon.
Investigators of Quezon City Police Station 4 said one of the slain suspects was identified through his police clearance as Eric Castro, 25, a resident of Brgy. Sta. Lucia; while his companion remained unidentified as of yesterday.
According to members of Novaliches Police Station (PS-4), a concerned citizen phoned them about two armed men spotted inside an abandoned house at California Dream Homes in Barangay San Bartolome around 4:50 p.m.
Police officers were immediately dispatched to the area to verify the information.
While the cops were about to enter the house, the two men suddenly fired shots at them, resulting in a gunfight.
The two suspects died on the spot while one of the policemen, PO1 Soriel Balingan, sustained minor injury.
One Percival Dalimag, a victim of robbery, later appeared at the crime scene and identified the suspects as the ones who forcibly took his motorcycle.
According to Dalimag, the two men flagged him down and took at gunpoint his motorcycle at De Jesus Compound, Barangay Novaliches past 2 p.m. on January 15.
Dalimag’s stolen black and red Suzuki Smash motorbike was recovered in the crime scene together with a .38-caliber pistol, a .22-caliber gun, a 9 mm revolver, and four sachets of shabu. (Alexandria San Juan)