By Joseph Almer Pedrajas Five suspected members of Candelaria robbery-holdup gang, including a former Army soldier and three former Marines officers, were killed in a shootout with police in Parañaque City, Monday evening. The slain suspects were identified as former Army soldier Joseph Candelaria; Nazzan Albao; and certain Alenain, Aseras, and Cornosa, who were believed to be former Marines soldiers. The operation against the robbery gang stemmed from the arrest of Candelaria and Albao for illegal possession of firearms. Both were arrested in a separate operation after another cohort, Andy Calia, was collared at dawn Monday for possession of Colt M1911 at a parking lot in the city. Police ordered Candelaria and Albao to communicate with their other cohorts and set a meeting somewhere on Macapagal Avenue in Parañaque. Alenain, Aseras, and Cornosa allegedly agreed to meet their two cohorts. Candelaria and Albao, together with policemen, arrived at the scene at about 9 p.m. Monday. Alenain, Aseras, and Cornosa arrived 15 minutes later aboard a van, but they apparently sensed their two cohorts were with lawmen, Police Colonel Robin King Sarmiento, Parañaque City police chief, said. They immediately opened fire, prompting police to retaliate. Alenain, Aseras and Cornosa were killed during the exchange of fire. Candelaria and Albao took advantage of the shootout and tried to escape. However, policemen fired at them, killing them in the process, Sarmiento said. Candelaria was still in handcuff when he was shot. Sarmiento said they will investigate if there was irregularity in the killing of the suspects. Police Lieutenant Bobby Lumiwan was hit during the exchange of fire, but escaped unhurt as he was wearing a bullet-proof vest, Sarmiento said. The van driver escaped aboard the vehicle during the shootout. Seized from the crime scene were two caliber .45 firearms and one Glock 23 pistols and several bullet casings. Police said the slain suspects had allegedly victimized Chinese workers in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) outlets and had served as “musclemen” for debt collectors employed by loan sharks. Meanwhile, police arrested six Chinese and a Taiwanese for allegedly abducting three foreign employees of POGO who wanted to go home over work abuses. Police Col. Jonnel Estomo, director of the Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG), said criminal charges have already been filed against the six foreigners who allegedly work for POGO Wan Hao Co.,  which is based in Las Piñas City. He identified them as Chen Xin, 28; Liu Chen, 37; Yang Shuwen, 26; Wei Chong, 22; Zhang Lee, 30; Qi Long, 22; and Taiwanese Yu John Ruei, 26. The victims were identified as Xu Jinming, Xu Huanbo, and Ou Kailang. Lt. Col. Joel Saliba, head of the AKG Luzon Field Office, said the victims arrived in the country in June this year to work in Wan Hao Co. as they were promised monthly salary ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 Renminbi (RMB) and a two-day day-off. One Renminbi is equivalent to roughly P7. But upon reporting for work, Saliba said the three victims were surprised that they would only be given 6,000 RMB and that they have to work 12 to 14 hours with one day-off. The victims reported the incident to the Chinese embassy but the suspects allegedly promised to process their papers to return to China. But as they were waiting for the suspects who promised them to process travel documents, they were instead forced to board a van at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Sunday night. The ensuing commotion caught the attention of the police's Aviation Security Group which in turn held them all. The AKG stepped in after learning of the story. (With a report from Aaron Recuenco)