Ecija's most wanted man killed in Good Friday shootout with cops

CABANATUAN CITY , Philippines  – The leader of a dreaded robbery gang operating in Nueva Ecija, whom police tagged as the province’s most wanted man, was killed following a shootout with policemen manning a checkpoint in Rizal, Nueva Ecija on Good Friday, the Philippine National Police reported yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Ricardo Marquez, provincial police director, identified the slain gang leader as Danilo Gatchalian, 36, of Barangay Poblacion West, Rizal, Nueva Ecija. He died on the spot from multiple bullet wounds.

Marquez said Gatchalian is Nueva Ecija’s most wanted man who has been tagged as the leader of the Gatchalian group operating in the province.   

Marquez said the shootout took place at a checkpoint in Barangay Bicos, Rizal at around 5:10 a.m. on Good Friday when elements of the provincial public safety management company under Police Inspector Alexander Reyes flagged down Gatchalian who was on board an unlicensed black Honda motorcycle that passed by the checkpoint.

Instead of stopping, Gatchalian sped away and fired away at the lawmen with his .45 caliber Colt pistol, triggering a running shootout. Lawmen gave chase and fired at the suspect who died from bullet wounds.

None among the lawmen was wounded in the shootout although the police’s service patrol vehicle was damaged.      

Marquez said Gatchalian has at least 12 standing warrants of arrest for robbery-holdup and carnapping before various regional trial courts in Cabanatuan City and San Jose City. Among these incidents are robbery-holdup incidents in Rizal on Sept. 12 and March 8 and in Gen. Natividad on March 15.

Marquez said Gatchalian’s group was also involved in gun-for-hire operations in Nueva Ecija and Pangasinan. When asked if Gatchalian has links to local politicians, he said they have no evidence that would link Gatchalian to politicial personalities.

He said prior to his killing, Gatchalian even robbed tricyle drivers in Gen. Natividad.

Prior to the shootout, Reyes’ group devised a case operational plan codenamed “Gatchalian Group” for the neutralization of Gatchalian and his members.

Recovered from the encounter scene were the .45 caliber Colt pistol, one magazine and live ammunitions and the suspect’s motorcycle.