Cop fights off robbers, kills 2 in Batangas heist

Two armed men were shot dead after they tried robbing two people who had just withdrawn P830,000 from a bank in Batangas province, one of whom was a policeman who fought off the attackers. The shooting incident happened at N. Gonzales Street at Barangay Poblacion 3 in Tanauan City on Friday at about 3 p.m., according to Philippine National Police spokesman Chief Inspector Agrimero Cruz. An initial investigation showed that Juanita Pineda and PO2 Joel Pineda were on board their Toyota Corolla after withdrawing money from a Metrobank branch when the suspects struck. Riding a motorcycle, the suspects blocked the victims' path and shot the front tires of the Corolla. The policeman retaliated and a firefight ensued. The two Pinedas were hurt, while two of the three suspected robbers were killed. The third suspect was able to flee from the crime scene. Police did not say if he was able to cart away any cash. It was not clear from the report how the two Pinedas were related to each other. The two slain suspects remain unidentified as of posting time. Recovered from the site were a caliber-.45 pistol with four bullets, a 9-mm pistol with 14 bullets, seven spent shells of a caliber-.45 pistol, five spent shells of a 9-mm pistol, and a mobile phone.—Mark D. Merueñas/JV, GMA News