MALVAR, Batangas – Three of four suspects who robbed a gas station in Lipa City were cornered and killed in Barangay Luta Sur early Saturday.
The Batangas Police Provincial Office (BPPO) identified two slain suspects as Ponciano Raul Leynes, 54, of Lipa City and Leoncio Morada, 59, of Padre Garcia, Batangas. The third body has yet to be identified.
The fourth suspect managed to escape and is now a subject of a police manhunt.
The suspects robbed a gasoline station in Barangay Bugtong around 12:50 a.m. and fled toward Malvar aboard two motorcycles. They eluded the police checkpoint in Malvar.
Operatives from the Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIB) and Lipa City police, which happened to have an anti-illegal drugs operation, joined the chase that ended in Barangay Luta Sur.
Police said the suspects were cohorts of one Reymises Vivar Fernandez, alias Mise, a member of Lat Crime Group involved in robbery and gun-for-hire activities in Laguna and Batangas provinces.
Police recovered at the crime scene three cal.45 pistols with magazines and ammunitions and two motorcycles. (Lyka Manalo)
