Philippines - Deadliest police shootout in Metro Manila's history

by jayr_patron | December 7, 2008 at 06:46 am

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Ten suspected criminals, one policeman, and five civilians were killed in a bloody shootout in Paranaque City, Friday night. The criminals involved were alleged members of the Ozamiz and Waray-Waray groups which were about to rob a warehouse in Marcelo Green village in this city.

These groups were also pointed as being behind a series of high-profile robberies and illegal entries in various Metro Manila establishments this year, including the rob-try at St. Scholastica's College in Manila in November.

Sixteen persons—including a seven-year-old girl—were reported killed in a running gun battle in the Sucat area of Parañaque City.

Alfonso de Vera, 53, and his seven-year-old daughter Alyanna were killed by members of police Special Action Force, according to witnesses at the site of a shootout inside the United Parañaque Subdivision 4, which the suspected robbers had entered while being chased by the police.

De Vera’s wife, Lilian, told reporters that policemen might have mistaken their van, with license plate Van XEW-327, for one of the getaway cars of the suspected robbers.

Also killed in the firefight were three other civilians, 10 suspected robbers, one policeman, the police said.

Several others were wounded, including a ranking officer of the Highway Patrol Group, two members of the Special Action Force, a village watchman, and a security guard, said Director Leopoldo Bataoil, head of the Metro Manila regional police.

The suspected robbers were members of the Waray-Waray Gang and Ozamis Group,
Bataoil said.