8 suspected robbers killed in Cavite encounter

(UPDATED 9:28 p.m.) Eight suspected robbers were killed while a ninth is now being tracked down following a failed robbery try in Silang town in Cavite Tuesday.

 

Acting on a tip, police chanced on the suspects about to strike at a hardware store in Barangay Litlit, a report from GMA's “24-Oras” program said Tuesday.

 

The suspects were alleged members of the notorious Alingaro holdup-robbery group, which is said to be named after a remote Barangay in General Trias where the suspects live.

 

Four of the slain suspects were identified as Jomar Echevarria, Buchoy Babaan, Danilo Lanzaga and an alias “Totoy.”


 

Cavite police head Chief Superintendent Joselito Esquivel said police teams rushed to the area after an informant told them about the presence of the armed men.

 

A police report said authorities set up a checkpoint in the area. The suspects ignored the checkpoint, triggering the shootout.

 

“Around 1:30 nagkabulagaan sila doon and they engaged my SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) [team] and aking local police kaya nagkaroon ng running gun battle,” Esquivel said.

 

Recovered from the area were three motorcycles without license plates, and caliber .38 and caliber .45 handguns.

 

Meanwhile, the provincial government has admitted that the local business sector is already being affected by the rampant robberies in Cavite.
 

“Malaking perwisyo na. Halos daily ang [robbery] reports sa amin,” Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla said.

Local government officials are hoping the neutralization of the suspected robbers by the police will decrease the incidents in the province. — Joel Locsin and Andrei Medina/RSJ/NB, GMA News