5 alleged syndicate members slain in armed encounter against Bacoor cops

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Five suspected members of the “Gapos Gang” syndicate were killed in an armed encounter with the Bacoor City Police on Tuesday in Barangay Molino, Bacoor, Cavite.

In a “24 Oras” report by Raffy Tima, a car chase ensued between the cops and the "gang members" who were aboard a car and a motorcycle, after the suspects were spotted lurking near their target subdivision around noon.

According to Bacoor Chief of Police P/Lt.Col. Alexie Desamito, authorities initially tried to flag down the suspects before the situation escalated.

“Sabi ko i-flag down ninyo. Flinag down pero binakbakan na ‘yung tropa natin,” Desamito recalled.

(I told them to flag the suspects down. They flagged them down, but the suspects immediately opened fire on our troops.)

“Nakasunod na kami, ‘yung isa, nahulog kasi pagewang-gewang na ‘yung sasakyan nila pero nakipagbakbakan pa rin,” she added.

(We were trailing behind them. One of them fell off because their vehicle was already swerving, but they continued to engage in a firefight.)

Authorities said the armed group led police on a chase from the subdivision all the way to the Molino Flyover, where bullets had struck the vehicle of the Bacoor Police chief.

Two of the suspects died after their vehicle flipped over along the Molino Flyover.

Meanwhile, some of the suspects attempted to escape by hijacking a motorcycle, but were blocked by a dragnet laid out by the police. They were killed in an exchange of gunfire.

Two suspects managed to escape, while five firearms were initially recovered at the scene.

Due to the incident, the Molino Flyover remained closed to motorists until Tuesday evening.

Investigators are still verifying the identities of the suspects, but two of them are allegedly involved in robbery cases in Cavite.

“Yung isa rito, nangholdap sa GMA Jewelry Shop. ‘Yung isa suspected na AWOL na pulis, sarhento, pero bine-verify pa namin kasi ID pa lang niya ‘yung nakita namin,” Desamito said.

(One of them held up the GMA Jewelry Shop. Another is a suspected AWOL police officer, a sergeant, but we are still verifying this because we have only seen his ID so far.)

Authorities said that apart from the suspects involved in the incident, it is possible there are more members, given the high likelihood that the group belongs to a large syndicate. — Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/BAP, GMA News