Armed suspect accosted by Rizal cops killed in shootout

A suspect was killed in a shootout with police in Rizal's Taytay town, EJ Gomez reported Sunday on 24 Oras  Weekend.

Barangay Sta. Ana tanods and police were patrolling the streets early Saturday morning when they saw the suspect with a gun on him.

“Nung time na sinita siya, bigla siyang  bumunot ng baril. Nung nakita na niya ang pulis, bigla siya nagpaputok  na kasi alam niyang marami. Marami kami nagro-roving,” said Barangay Sta. Ana team leader Romel Cañolas.

(When he was accosted, he suddenly pulled out his gun. When he saw the police, he suddenly opened fire because he knew there were a lot of us.)

The suspect fired his weapon four times. According to the police officers and tanods, the suspect ran about 500 meters into an alley still armed.

“More or less four shots ang pinutok niya sa ating  kapulisan at baranagay safety public officers. Then from there,  nag-return fire ang ating mga pulis. And yun nga, natamaan itong  suspect,” Rizal Provincial Office Director Police Colonel Felipe Maraggun.

(More or less he fired four shots at our policemen and barangay public safety officers. Then our police returned fire and the suspect was hit.)

Authorities recovered four bullet casings from the .45 caliber handgun used by the suspect.

He was brought to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Based on the investigation, the suspect was previously jailed for selling illegal drugs and possession of illegal firearms. He was released last April.

“Tinitingnan din natin ang anggulo na  may mga kaugnayan siya sa illegal na droga nangyayari dyan sa Taytay,  lalong-lalo na dyan sa Barangay Santa Ana,” Maraggun said.

(We are also looking at the possibility that he had ties to the illegal drug trade in Taytay, especially in Barangay Santa Ana.) — Mariel Celine Serquiña/DVM, GMA Integrated News