MANILA — Two men have been arrested by police in an armed encounter at a checkpoint Wednesday afternoon along Laong Laan St., corner A. Mendoza St., Sampaloc, Manila.
The suspects were identified as Argelle Cunanan, 26, of C.M. Recto Blvd., Sta Cruz, Manila and Orlando Ignacio, 32, of 307 Balagtas St., Tondo, Manila.
Police were enforcing Operation Sita amid reports of motorcycle thieves in the area when the shootout took place.
The two suspects on a black motorcycle were flagged down but sped away, prompting the police to chase them.
They were cornered and opened fire at the police, resulting in the armed encounter.
One of the suspects was brought to Jose Reyes Hospital for medical treatment while the other suspect was brought to the police station for investigation.
Recovered from the suspects were one caliber .38 revolver with fired ammunition, two improvised picklocks, one hammer, one pair of pliers, cross, an allen wrench, and two pieces of small heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing suspected shabu. (Benjamin Pulta/PNA)
