Initial reports reaching this police regional headquarters said the suspects belonged to the so-called Jimboy Santos Group tagged as being responsible for several hold-up and kidnap cases in various provinces in Central Luzon.
Chief Supt. Aaron Aquino said the running gunbattle started in Magalang town, involving the suspects on board a Mitsubishi Montero with plate number PQC-877. They allegedly engaged in a firefight several cops from the Highway Patrol Group and the Criminal Investigation Group.
The report said the shootout reached Barangay Pulong Cacutud in Angeles City where more cops tried to intercept the fleeing suspects. It was here that two suspects were killed, including the gang leader Jimboy Santos, police said.
The other suspects, riding a Mitsubishi van, however, drove on to Pandakakai resettlement in Mexico town where more firefights occurred and killed the other five suspects, the police report also said.
Subsequent police report identified those killed as Reynaldo Domingo, Jr, Christian George Uy, Elmer Ballesteros, and Colando Castroverde, all of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan; and Dante Deograde of Sta. Maria, Bulacan.
