Two suspected members of a notorious robbery group, including its leader, were killed after shooting it out with the local police in Bataan on Friday.
The Bataan provincial police identified the killed suspects as Roderick Yumol alias Dick and Bulldog, leader of the Bataan-based "Dick Yumol Gang"; and an accomplice identified only through a tattoo on his body as "Obet Burdado."
A third suspect was able to escape and is the subject of an ongoing manhunt operation.
An initial investigation showed that at about 5:30 p.m., the three suspects held up a group of travelers who at the time were stuck along the P. Roman Highway in Limay town due to a flat tire.
After being alerted by the victims, local police launched a pursuit operation and spotted the suspected robbers traveling along the same highway aboard a north-bound tricycle past 6 p.m.
After its passengers noticed the responding police, the tricycle pulled over. But instead of surrendering, Yumol and Obet allegedly opened fire at the policemen, while their companion fled across the grassy portion along the road.
The police returned fire, killing Yumol and Obet. Seized from the suspects were two caliber .38 revolvers, an MK2 hand grenade, 18 pieces of live ammunition, two slugs of a 9-mm pistol, a mobile phone, and a sketch map allegedly of the establishments they were targeting to rob.
Police also took custody of the suspects' tricycle (RY 2893) to help investigators trace other people victimized by the notorious gang.—Mark D. Merueñas/JV,
