Robber dead, 2 cops wounded in Las Piñas shootout

A robbery suspect was killed during a shootout inside a residential village that wounded two cops in Las Piñas City.

According to a 24 Oras report by Mav Gonzales, the incident began when the suspect was caught trying to rob the house of a Philippine Navy retiree.

“Pinasok yung bahay nung ating biktima [at] naalarma [siya]. Dahil siya ay retired navy, kinuha niya yung [kaniyang] personal firearm. Nung nagkatinginan sila nung suspek, imbes na maputukan niya, madepensahan niya yung sarili, siya pa naagawan ng baril,” said Las Piñas Police Chief Police Colonel Sandro Jay Tafalla.

(The suspect entered the house of our victim [and] and [he was] alarmed. Being a retired navy man, he took [his] personal firearm. When he found the suspect, instead of shooting and defending himself, the suspect stole his gun.)

The victim was able to leave his house and ask for help from passing police officers on patrol. A shootout ensued after the suspect used the stolen firearm to resist arrest.

“Pagbaba namin, biglang lumabas, pinutukan na kami. Siguro kasi sabi sa tindahan, andiyan na mga pulis lumabas ka dito. Kami na hinarap. Nakipagbarilan sa amin… Parang sabog eh. Dire-diretso eh, pinuputukan po kami eh. Wala talagang takot eh,” said Police Lieutenant Jess de Leon.

(When we arrived, he suddenly came out and began shooting at us. Maybe because the nearby store said the police was here and he should come out. He confronted us. He shot at us… He seemed high on drugs. He kept going, shooting at us. He didn’t seem scared.)

“Sa police operational procedures natin, ang pulis may karapatan din ipagtanggol ang kanilang mga sarili. ‘Yung self-defense na sinasabi,” said SPD Chief Police Brigadier General Leon Rosete.

(According to police operational procedures, our policemen have the right to defend themselves. This is what they call self-defense.)

The encounter led to the death of the unidentified suspect. Police Master Sergeant Avelino Lopez and Police Master Sergeant Warrant Panton were both wounded in the exchange of gunfire and were rushed to the hospital for treatment.

A total of 19 bullet casings were found at the scene, while the stolen 9mm pistol was recovered from the suspect. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/RF, GMA Integrated News