Fireman, bystander killed in Makati shooting; police shoot gunman dead

(Updated 3:10 p.m.) A fireman and a bystander were killed after a shooting incident in Makati City, while the gunman was shot dead later in an alleged shootout with police operatives after he "briefly" took a child hostage, local officials said. A dzBB report said the two shooting victims, a fireman and reportedly a pedicab driver, died at the Ospital ng Makati. The report quoted Superintendent Froilan Bonifacio, Makati police chief, as saying that the suspect grabbed a woman and used her as a human shield while trying to escape from policemen pursuing him. "Mayroon siyang hinila na bata pero pinaalis din... Initially, parang nang-hostage ito," Bonifacio said in another dzBB interview, adding that the incident should not be called a hostage-taking. The suspect then forced himself inside a house along P. Santos Street corner Belarmino Street, where he died due to "fatal wounds" after shooting it out with policemen. The report said Makati Mayor Jejomar "Jun-Jun" Binay, who was in the crime area, said security has already been "beefed up" around the West Tower condominium, where an excavation to repair a leaking gas pipeline has been going on since last week. Grenade-wielding suspect Prior to the "hostage-taking" incident, the suspect shot a fireman identified as Fire Officer 3 Armando Bose along Evangelista Street, near the West Tower Condominium. A bystander was hit by stray bullets. An initial investigation showed that suspect shot the fireman because the latter had refused to give his motorcycle to the gunman. The gunman wanted to grab the fireman's vehicle to be used as to get away from policemen who was pursuing him at the time along the Osmeña Highway (or South Super Highway) because he was "suspicious-looking." "Nandun siya nung una sa ilalaim ng [Magallanes] flyover. Ayaw magpasita at tumakbo... Tapos nahulog ang granada na dala niya sa habulan," said PO2 Leo Melindo of the Makati police, adding the grenade did not explode. The suspect, armed with a sub-machine gun and a revolver, ran towards Evangelista Street where he tried to steal a motorcycle from Bose. The suspect shot the fireman after the latter refused to give away his vehicle. The assailant then fled on foot toward Belarmino Street before holing up inside a residence, taking a child hostage. Melindo said the suspect was still able to ride a jeepney to the residence which he took over. At a distance DzBB's Nimfa Ravelo said she and other members of the media were asked to maintain a distance from the site where the incident place. Apart from saying that the "hostage-taking" incident happened inside a building, Ravelo gave no further details on the incident so as not to compromise police operations. — Mark D. Merueñas, LBG/HS, GMANews.TV