Bike riding suspect killed in shootout

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — One of the riding-in-tandem suspects was killed in a shootout at Barangay Taculing in this city early Wednesday.

Police identified the fatality as 32-year-old Ryan Bonza of Paglaum Village in Mansilingan, this city, while his unidentified companion was still being pursued by authorities, as of press time.

Initial investigation indicated that the suspects held up Rex Denero, 25, of Murcia town in Negros Occidental at around 1:30 a.m.

In a pursuit operation, members of the Murcia Police Station intercepted the suspects at Corner Circumferential-1st Road Puentebella, in Barangay Taculing, about 30 minutes after.

Police records showed that Bonza, the back rider, first drew his firearm and pointed at the responding police officer, prompting the latter to fire shots at him.

Bonza sustained multiple gunshot wounds on the different parts of his body while his companion immediately sped off, with the motorcycle, from the crime scene.

Recovered from the crime scene were a .38-caliber revolver loaded with six ammunition; a watch; a cellphone; a stun gun; keys; a silver necklace; a Swiss knife and a pouch containing P40.

Meanwhile, Mary Joanne Gonzales, 30, of Binalbagan town, was held up at knifepoint by three men at the Circumferential Road in Barangay Villamonte, this city, at around 12:05 a.m. yesterday.

The three robbers fled with her bag worth P1,500 containing her iPhone 4S worth P15,000; Samsung Note 3 worth P25,000; HTC Desire cellphone P15,000; wallet worth P1,500; various ATM cards; several Identification cards; charges; umbrella; keys and other personal belongings.

In a pursuit operation, the members of Police Station 4 apprehended the three suspects, identified as 18-year old Christian John Dela Paz; Justine Aspera, 19 and a 17-year old minor, all of Barangay Montevista, this city, at Barangay Villamonte. —Marchel P. Espina (FREEMAN)