8 members of robbery groups dead in CL encounters

MANILA, Philippines - Eight suspected members of robbery/holdup groups were killed in related encounters in Tarlac and Nueva Ecija provinces Sunday night, a police official said Monday. In a statement, Chief Superintendent Leon Nilo dela Cruz, Central Luzon director, said the police initially encountered an undetermined number of armed men believed to be members of the Bonnet Gang and Bumatay Group at around 7:30 p.m. in Sitio Sto. Rosario, Baculong village in the municipality of Victoria, Tarlac. He said the Tarlac police received intelligence information that the suspects will rob P3 million from a certain Hilario Legaspi, 58, a businessman residing in the area. One of two suspects in the Tarlac incident was identified as Lucio Guinayen, Jr. alias "Paoagan." The other slain suspect is still being identified, Mr. dela Cruz said. He said pursuit operations led to another clash in Burgos village, Sto. Domingo town in Nueva Ecija at around 9 p.m. where six other suspects were killed. Four of the six were identified as Genaro Pascual alias "Boy Bumatay," alleged leader of the Bumatay Group and a resident of San Isidro, Lupao; Peter S. Lomibao of San Jose City; Judy Ferrer of Parista, Cuyapo, all in Nueva Ecija, and Alfredo Melano alyas Janggo of Umingan town, Pangasinan. The other two are still being identified. Mr. dela Cruz said the Bonnet Gang and Bumatay Group were allegedly responsible for robbery/holdup cases in Central Luzon for the past three years. — BusinessWorld