CAMP GEN. VICENTE LIM, Calamba City — Five suspected members of the notorious Francisco robbery hold-up crime group were killed while two others were arrested during an encounter with police operatives early Wednesday morning in Palakulan, Barangay Wawa in Nasugbu, Batangas.
Batangas police provincial director Senior Supt. Edwin Aguilan Quilates, in his report to Calabarzon Police regional director Chief Supt. Edward Esperat Carranza, said the five criminal group members resisted when the law enforcers were implementing the search warrants for three siblings, who are members of the crime group.
Quilates identified the slain siblings as Rudy Ramos Francisco alias “Kambal”; Roland Ramos Francisco, who has a warrant of arrest for robbery; Rico Ramos Francisco alias “Nono”; and the two others are Arian Hernandez and an alias “Scoth Pacia.”
He said police operatives also arrested a certain Eva and Eric Tiboli, who were with the five suspects during the encounter.
He said elements of the Nasugbu Municipal Police Station, headed by Chief Insp. Ronald P. Cayago, were implementing the search warrants at the houses of the three brothers around 5:50 a.m. Wednesday when the law enforcers were fired upon by the suspects.
The five suspects were killed instantly during the clash with the police operatives.
Quilates said initial investigation disclosed that all the suspects were members of the Francisco robbery-hold up group operating in Batangas and were also involved in the illegal drugs trade.
The criminal group figured in the robbery-hold up worth PHP3 million in Batangas City last year and was tagged as prime suspects in the heist at a Petron Gas Station in Nasugbu town, and another robbery at a house of certain Al Perez in the Ramos Subdivision in Barangay 3 here.
Eric Tiboli is said to have been involved in robbery-hold up in Calaca town where in some time in 2015.
They were also involved in the robbery-hold up in the residences of the Sarmientos and Lourdes Gumba in Nasugbu town.
Case officers Police Officers 1 Ronnie Glenn Bagsic and Jefferson Manalo, along with other responding policemen recovered pieces of evidence such as a caliber .45 pistol, two calibers .38 revolvers, a Magnum .22 revolver and a hand grenade at the scene. (Jojo C. Magsombol/PNA)
