Two motorcycle-riding robbers killed in predawn encounter

Two more suspected motorcycle-riding robbers were gunned down in an encounter with police in Manila's Tondo district before dawn Friday. Police said the two had just held up two women near the Tutuban Mall near Divisoria when they were intercepted along Narra Street in Tondo. "Ang dalawang biktima pauwi, papuntang Abad Santos (at) tinigilan ng dalawang naka-motor, inagawan ang bag. Ang pulis na naka-detail doon nakita kaya siya mismo tumawag," Manila Police District Station 2 head Superintendent Jemar Modequillo said in an interview on dzBB radio. Modequillo said he had deployed many plainclothes police personnel in the Divisoria and Tondo areas since night markets started operating for the Christmas season. He appealed to shoppers not to bring valuables when shopping, as much as possible. Valuables like jewelry and mobile phones may attract the attention of thieves and robbers, he added. "Huwag tayo magdala ng bagay na makakatawag-attention," he said. Recovered from the suspects were a 9-mm pistol and a cal-.22 revolver, according to a report by dzBB's Rodil Vega. The report also said one of the suspects was wearing slippers, short denim pants and red shirt. The second was wearing a green shirt. Friday's incident occurred barely 24 hours after police gunned down two suspected motorcycle-riding robbers in the city's Tondo district. In Thursday's incident, the two held up a man who had just met a Facebook friend. Police have been on alert against robbers and burglars especially as the Christmas season draws closer. — ELR, GMA News