Nueva Ecjia’s most wanted killed in Good Friday shootout

A suspected robbery gang leader included in Nueva Ecija’s most-wanted list was killed in a shootout with policemen in Rizal town on Good Friday, a local police director said Saturday. Danilo Gatchalian, 36, leader of the so-called Gatchalian gang allegedly involved in robbery-holdup and carnapping, was shot dead by policemen at a checkpoint in Barangay Bicos in Rizal town at 5:10 a.m. Friday, provincial police director Senior Supt. Ricardo Marquez said Saturday. Police units pursued Gatchalian after he tried to escape when he was spotted at the checkpoint aboard a motorcycle. The gang leader traded gunshots with the policemen chasing him. The police said he died from gunshot wounds. None of the policemen who pursued Gatchalian were hurt, although the police vehicle was damaged, Marquez said. According to Marquez, Gatchalian had at least 12 standing warrants of arrest for robbery-holdup and carnapping before Regional Trial Courts of Cabanatuan City and San Jose City. Among these cases are robbery-holdup incidents in Rizal town last September 12 and March 8 and in Gen. Natividad town last March 15.—Andreo C. Calonzo/JV, GMANews.TV