Robbery suspect killed after allegedly pulling gun on cops

The suspect in a  series of robberies in Las Piñas City was shot and killed over the weekend after he allegedly pulled a gun on police trying to arrest him.

According to Nico Waje’s report on “24 Oras”, Police Lieutenant Robert Kodiamat identified the suspect as Gian Bautista, a resident of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

Caught on CCTV, Bautista and two others arrived on two motorcycles and took valuables from an Indian on Sunday, July 31.

The victim then immediately sought help from the authorities.

A few minutes after the robbery, police spotted Bautista on board a motorcycle based on the victim's description.

“Nag-backtrack kami ng mga CCTV from Marcos-Alvarez going to Casimiro. So doon namin na-trace na doon siya laging dumadaan. Siya talaga ang suspek, kitang-kita sa video. So, nag-conduct kami ng choke point dito sa intersection ng Casimiro,” Kodiamat said.

(We backtracked the CCTVs from Marcos-Alvarez going to Casimiro. We traced that he always passed that road. He is really the suspect, which is clearly visible in the video. So, we conducted a choke point at the intersection of Casimiro.)

Kodiamat said police operatives tried to apprehend Bautista, but the latter pulled out his gun and attempted to shoot the cops.

“Pagliko niyang ganun, nakita niya ‘yung flinag down namin, pilit siyang umiwas. Pag-iwas niya nasagi niya ‘yung isang rider tapos pagbalik niya bumunot siya ng baril. Pagtutok niya, inunahan na ng tropa namin na nakapwesto doon sa unahan,” he said.

(When he turned at the corner, he saw the police flagging him down and tried to avoid us. While fleeing, he ran into a motorcycle rider, and when he came back, he pulled out a gun. When he was about to fire, our cops went ahead and fired.)

The suspect was brought to a hospital for medical treatment but was declared dead on arrival.

According to the police, four others were robbed on Sunday by Bautista's group.

Seized from the suspect were P45,000, seven cellphones, a .45 caliber gun and ammunition, and a motorcycle.

Police are still searching for the whereabouts of Bautista’s companions. -Mel Matthew Doctor/NB, GMA News