Ozamiz robbery group leader killed by police escorts during ambush

(Updated 11:41 p.m.) The alleged leader and a member of the the Ozamiz robbery group, Ricky Cadavero alias "Kambal" and Wilfredo Panogalinga Jr. alias "Kulot," were killed Monday night by their escorts from the Philippine National Police as the police convoy that was transporting them was ambushed by unidentified gunmen.

Poilice officers were transporting Cadavero and Panogalinga back to Camp Vicente Lim in Laguna from Cavite, where the two underwent inquest proceedings, said a report aired on GMA News' "State of the Nation with Jessica Soho".

An initial police report said that at a little past 6:30 p.m., as the police convoy was passing through San Pedro, Laguna on the Magsaysay Highway, the van carrying Cadavero and Panogalinga was shot at by unknown gunmen on two motorcycles.

In an interview on GMA 7's "Saksi", San Pedro PNP chief Police Superintendent Chito Bersaluna, said that it was at this point that Cadavero and Panogalinga made a grab for their police escorts' weapons.

The officers resisted and the two alleged gangster ended up getting shot. The police officers suffered minor injuries.

Meanwhile, the motorcycle-riding gunmen sped away.

The other vehicle in the police convoy then rushed Cadavero and Panogalinga to the nearest hospital, but they were declared "dead on arrival."

Cadavero and Panogalinga were in police custody as they were arrested by the Philippine National Police last Friday at Barangay San Agustin 2, Dasmariñas, Cavite. — DVM, GMA News