GABALDON, Nueva Ecija -- A policeman linked to hijackings in Nueva Ecija province was arrested with a cohort after they tried to shoot it out with authorities while another cop escaped and is being hunted.
A fourth suspect, described as a military informant, was killed.
Provincial police director Senior Superintendent Manuel Cornel said Police Officer 1 Alvin Belmonte, 38, assigned to Palayan town, and Reynaldo Gozun, 45, of Barangay Cabucbucan in Rizal town, were captured following the shootout in Barangay Ligaya in Gabaldon late Thursday afternoon.
The two, with the fugitive Police Officer 3 Benito Marquez, were in a hijacked cigarette delivery van when they encountered patrolling officers, who had been alerted to the crime by the salesman they had stolen the vehicle from, triggering a chase and shootout.
Killed was Raymond Reyes, a “civilian agent” of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and resident of Barangay Balaring, General Natividad.
Cornel said Marquez took a still undetermined amount of cash with him when he fled.
Seized from the arrested suspects were a .38 caliber revolver, two .45 caliber pistols and arund P20,000 in cash. (with a report from Jess Malabanan)