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Manila Bulletin

Philippines

Crime gang boss killed in shootout with Manila police

Philippines

Crime gang boss killed in shootout with Manila police

By Minka Klaudia Tiangco

An alleged leader of a crime group, who reportedly killed a former Manila policeman in 2020, was killed in a shootout with the police on Tuesday (April 13) in Tondo, Manila.

(MPD photo / MANILA BULLETIN)

Police identified the suspect as Rommel Tiatco, a resident of Barangay 93 in Tondo, Manila.

Brig. Gen. Leo Francisco, Manila Police District (MPD) director, said Tiatco is the leader of the Tiatco Organized Crime Group involved in holdup activities.

According to a report, elements of the MPD served a warrant of arrest to Tiatco for the killing of former PSSg. Dranreb Cipriano in 2020.

The arrest warrant for the crime of murder was issued by Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 20 Judge Marivic Balisi Umali.

Tiatco reportedly traded bullets with the authorities after they served him the arrest warrant.

The wounded suspect was brought to Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center but was pronounced dead on arrival at 9:35 a.m.

"'Yung mga ganitong kriminal, hindi talaga magpapahuli ng buhay (This kind of criminals will not be caught alive)," Francisco told reporters.

"Makikita natin kung gaano kapanganib ang ganitong klaseng tao (We can see how dangerous these people are)," he added.

Investigation showed that Cipriano was onboard a motorcycle with his wife when he was gunned down by Tiatco along Vitas Street in Tondo, Manila in October, 2020.

Cipriano was assigned to Police Regional Office 5 when he went on absence without leave.

Further investigation is underway to determine the motive behind the killing, Francisco said.

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