Video captures SLEX ‘shootout’ with robbery, kidnap suspects

In a video footage by a netizen, gun shots can be heard in the background before more than a dozen armed Philippine National Police operatives approached a white van stalled along South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) in Calamba, Laguna where  two members of a robbery and kidnap group were on board.

According to John Consulta’s report on “24 Oras,” the scene took place along Silangan Exit past 2 p.m. on Thursday, which caused heavy traffic in the area.

The netizen taking the video also feared getting hit by stray bullets as shots could be heard being fired.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Police Major General Vicente Danao said the two suspects who were killed in the encounter were involved in the robbery of two Chinese nationals in Parañaque City on May 7.

CCTV footage showed the suspects, who were posing as police officers, stealing cash and other items from the Chinese nationals. 

Authorities said P1 million was retrieved from the suspects following the SLEX encounter.

“Surveillance on target personalities. Pero since sinusundan na nga sila, nakahalata, nagkahabulan hanggang nakarating sila dito,” Danao said.

(They were on surveillance of target personalities. But since they were already being followed, they noticed, and it led to a chase until they reached this area.)

The officers also retrieved two .40 caliber firearms from the suspects.

Authorities said the group would become bodyguards of Chinese nationals working at Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations before they would steal from them.

The suspects would also use vehicles with stickers and logos of Malacañang.

A source of GMA News also said that one of the suspects was Totie Lazaro Raquel, a sub-leader of the group who has stolen from three POGO employees in Parañaque.

The NCRPO is also looking into reports that some police officers are involved in the operations of the groups.

“Maging miyembro ka man o hanay ka ng PNP o scalawag ka o kung sino ka man, definitely it will not be tolerated under my watch. Pinili niyo ‘yan and you choose to fight it out with our law enforcement so definitely, ‘yan ang kalalagyan ninyo,” Danao said. —Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News