MPD insists escaped gang member killed 2 civilians in Manila shootout

MANILA, Philippines - A member of the Waray-Waray robbery gang who escaped a shootout in Tondo, Manila last Wednesday was the one who shot dead two civilians during the firefight, Manila police insisted Friday. In an interview on dzBB radio, Manila Police District (MPD) Station 2 commander Supt. Jose Espino made the statement, as National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Dir. Geary Barias said they will still verify the claim through an ongoing investigation into the shooting incident. Six suspected Waray-Waray gang members were killed in Wednesday's shootout. However, two civilians - both employees of Asia Brewery Inc. - were also slain while another - a vendor - was wounded in the crossfire . "May isang suspect na nakatakbo, possible siya ang bumaril sa dalawang civilians (One of the suspects managed to flee. He was the one who fired at the two civilians)," Espino said. Barias said establishing whether the fire that killed the two civilians came from the police or the gang members remains the focus of the ongoing investigation into the incident being conducted by the NCRPO. Barias cited reports submitted to him by the MPD saying a still-unnamed member of the gang shot at the two while he was trying to escape. He did not give further details. "Yan inaalam natin ngayon. Sino ba nakapatay, pulis natin o sinasabi nilang isang nakatakas na member ng Waray-Waray? Ang initial version ng MPD may isang nakatakas na Waray-Waray Gang (That is what we are trying to find out. Who fired the fatal shots, our own men or the escaped gang member? The MPD's initial report said it was the Waray-Waray gang member)," Barias said. He said they expect to get an answer when results from ballistic tests on the MPD operatives' firearms come out. - GMANews.TV