2 holdup suspects killed in QC shootout


Two armed men were killed in a shootout with police early Monday morning, hours after they allegedly robbed a gasoline station in Novaliches, Quezon City.

Prior to the gunfight, gasoline station workers Ramon Philip Velasco, 36, and Paula Joy Ducat, 22, reported to Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Novaliches Station (PS 4) about the robbery incident that happened at their establishment.

The workers claimed that four armed men arrived at the gasoline station on Old Sauyo Road in Barangay Sauyo, Novaliches at about 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 6, and declared a holdup.

The suspects took away P8,718 cash and a cellphone from the establishment.

The PS 4 dispatched a team who later spotted and stopped two men riding a motorcycle, which fit the victims' description of one of the vehicles used by the robbers, along Doña Rosario St. in Novaliches proper at around 3:10 a.m. The duo suddenly pulled out their guns and fired at the police officers.

The cops retaliated, killing the two suspects on site.

The holdup victims confirmed that the two slain suspects were part of the group who robbed the gasoline station.

Police recovered from the suspects a .45-caliber pistol, a firearm with unknown caliber, two packs of suspected shabu, a green ecobag that contains the stolen items, and a Yamaha Fino motorcycle.

Probers are still establishing the identities of the slain men.