La Trinidad, Benguet -Three alleged carnappers died after they engaged combined police operatives in a shootout along the Lamut-Shilan national road early Friday morning.
However, Police officials stated that the slain carnapping suspects are yet to be identified although they are said to be members of a notorious robbery and carnapping group operating in the different parts of Northern Luzon.
Police report stated that the robbery holdup and carnapping suspects were spotted in front of a gasoline station moments after the armed encounter with personnel of the La Trinidad Municipal Police Station, Benguet Provincial Police Office, Police Regional Office in the Cordillera and 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company of the Pampanga Provincial Police Office.
Upon sensing the arrival of the responding personnel, the suspects opened fire at the law enforcers and sped off towards the direction of Tomay that resulted to the hot pursuit operation.
Other police personnel established a road block at the Lamut-Shilan-Beckel road after being informed of the possible escape route of the suspects.
The suspects’ vehicle allegedly lost control of their vehicle causing it to crash into a portion of the road.
Despite being cornered by the police and being warned to yield, the armed suspects tried to scamper in different directions and engaged the law enforcers into a running gun battle.
Two of the suspects died on the spot due to multiple gunshot wounds on the different parts of their bodies while the third suspect was rushed to the Benguet General Hospital (BeGH) but was pronounced dead on arrival by attending physicians.
No policemen were hurt in the said shootout.
(Photo courtesy of PNP-CAR Press Corp.)