5 suspected robbery group members killed in Bacoor police shootout; 2 ex-cops among fatalities

MANILA — Five suspected members of a robbery-hold-up group were killed in a shootout with police following a high-speed chase in Bacoor City, Cavite, on Tuesday afternoon, November 3.

The group was allegedly responsible for a series of robberies in Metro Manila and the Calabarzon region, while two of the fatalities were identified as former police officers, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Two other alleged accomplices, including a suspect who reportedly posed as a security guard, managed to escape and remain the subject of a manhunt.

The encounter began shortly after 1 p.m. when undercover operatives of the Bacoor City Police Station intercepted a car carrying five suspected members of the group inside a subdivision in Barangay Molino Tres.

Police said the suspects were allegedly preparing to rob a resident when the operation was launched. Other police operatives followed the vehicle aboard a pickup truck.

CCTV footage showed the suspects’ car speeding out of the subdivision, nearly hitting a passing jeepney as they reached Molino Road.

A high-speed chase ensued after the suspects allegedly realized they were being pursued by police. During the pursuit, the suspects reportedly fired at the chasing officers, sideswiped a white SUV and nearly ran over a pedestrian crossing the road.

The chase eventually reached the Molino IV flyover, where the suspects’ vehicle swerved before overturning.

Bacoor City Police Chief PLt. Col. Alexie Desamito said the armed confrontation continued even after the vehicle flipped over.

One of the suspects reportedly fell out of the vehicle during the chase but was still armed and engaged police officers positioned along the route.

“Nakita ko. Nakita, nakita, ‘Uy, nalaglag, nalaglag.’ So, buti na lang nasa medyo nasa looban siya ng gitna, sir. ’Di namin masagasaan. Pero however, nung nalaglag siya, armado, may baril pa rin, sir,” Desamito said.

Police also recovered a .45-caliber pistol and a .38-caliber revolver. Other firearms were recovered at the scene.

The vehicle of the Bacoor police chief also sustained bullet holes on its windshield and other parts during the exchange of gunfire. No police officers or civilians were reported injured in the encounter.

Desamito said they had been monitoring the group for more than a month after receiving intelligence reports about its activities. Police eventually received information that the group was planning to rob a resident inside the subdivision.

According to Desamito, the group’s alleged modus operandi involved one member posing as a security guard who would knock on the target’s door. Once the resident opened it, the other suspects would force their way inside.

On the day of the operation, police spotted a suspicious individual wearing a security guard’s uniform and repeatedly passing through the area aboard a motorcycle.

The subdivision’s legitimate security guard also became suspicious of the individual and followed him, prompting police to launch the operation.

Desamito added that the intelligence report about a suspect posing as a security guard turned out to be accurate, although the individual was wearing an incorrect uniform.

Desamito said he then instructed police personnel to intercept suspicious motorcycles and vehicles leaving the area.

The two other suspects, including the alleged fake security guard, escaped aboard a motorcycle and are still being pursued.

Calabarzon Police Director PBGen Dominic Baccay said investigators were looking into the group’s possible involvement in previous robbery incidents in the region, including the robbery of a jewelry repair shop in General Mariano Alvarez (GMA), Cavite, and another incident in Dasmariñas.

He added that the group was also allegedly involved in other criminal activities, including kidnapping for ransom, particularly targeting foreign nationals.

“Ang grupo na ito ay accordingly ay mga robbery hold-up group at meron din silang ibang atrocities na kagaya ng kidnap for ransom. Karamihan sa kanilang previous atrocities na kanilang mga illegal activities na ginawa ay nangingidnap sila ng mga foreign nationals at pinapatubos nila,” Baccay said.

“Tinitingnan natin ang linkages nito o connection sa mga nakaraang insidente,” he added.

PNP spokesperson PCOL Allen Rae Co confirmed that two of the five slain suspects were former police officers.

“‘Yung dalawa po doon sa napatay na suspect ay dating pulis. ‘Yung isa po was already dismissed. Another is nag-AWOL po noong February. These two former police officers were involved in a robbery case in Caloocan,” Co said.

Meanwhile, the Calabarzon police recognized and awarded Bacoor police personnel on Tuesday night for their efforts in pursuing and neutralizing the suspected robbery group.

Authorities are continuing the manhunt for the two remaining suspects and investigating whether the two former police officers had served as leaders of the group.