Three unidentified men who reportedly robbed a taxi driver and carnapped their victim's vehicle were killed in an encounter with police in Quezon City Friday morning.
The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said a taxi driver sought their assistance after he was robbed at gunpoint by two men who posed as passengers bound for Fairview General Hospital.
The victim said the robbery took place along Batasan Hills on Commonwealth Avenue around 1:30 a.m. when the robbers pulled out their gun and declared a hold-up before forcibly taking his taxi and other belongings, including his P3,700 cash and cellphone.
After the incident, the victim told police, the suspects sped off through the southbound lane of Commonwealth Avenue.
Members of the QCPD then held an operation after the victim reported the incident and intercepted his vehicle spotted along Sauyo Road in Barangay Sauyo around 3:30 a.m.
"Upon seeing the police car, said suspects armed with their hand guns fired towards the chasing marked vehicle prompted the police to retaliate that resulted in the untimely death of the two suspects," the police report said.
Police said they found out that the two robbers also had a cohort, who boarded a motorcycle while tailing them.
The third carnapper was discovered and intercepted at about 4:00 a.m. while traveling along IBP Road in Barangay Batasan Hills by police personnel conducting a checkpoint in the area.
"The suspect sped off and fired his gun upon reaching the checkpoint, personnel retaliate that resulted to the death of another suspect," the report added.
Investigators recovered from the suspects one caliber 38 revolver without serial number, one Colt.45 caliber with magazine and with serial number 08137, nine pieces fired cartridge cases of caliber 9mm, six pieces fired cartridge cases of .45 caliber, and a Toyota Vios bearing a plate number UVH 769.
They also recovered as evidence one Yamaha FZ motorcycle, one caliber 9mm pistol loaded with six fired cartridge cases and one sling bag containing assorted identification cards of the victim.