Three members of a gang specialising in robbery and assassination were killed in a shoot-out

Three members of a criminal gang specialising in robbery and assassination were killed in a shoot-out with Philippine police yesterday.One of those slain was believed to be the gunman involved in the killing of junior cabinet member Ramon Aquino, who was gunned down in March as he was being driven to a meeting with President Gloria Arroyo in central Manila, police said.The slain suspects had hijacked a cargo truck loaded with steel bars and were flagged down by a police unit in Caloocan city, north of Manila. A shootout followed, in which the three died, police said in a statement."One of them is rumoured to be one of those responsible for the killing of Public Works Undersecretary Ramon Aquino last March 11," said Senior Superintendent Isagani Reyes, head of the criminal investigation unit in Manila."We are digging further on the suspect's involvement in Aquino's assassination and we are coordinating closely with the investigator-on-case and witnesses," he said.Police had earlier said Aquino's killing could have been politically motivated.Political and vendetta killings are common in the Philippines, and many politicians have armed body guards.

Joseph B. Ibones shot twice by a Crips member

Joseph B. Ibones, 29, son of Cebu City Police Office – Security and Service Group (SSG) Chief Ambrosio Ibones underwent an operation at a private hospital after taking a bullet in the left side of his body. Homicide Section Chief Mario Monilar said the slug hit a portion of Joseph’s liver. He is still under observation.
Senior Insp. Ibones, in a separate interview, called on barangay officials in Pardo to strictly implement the curfew so that gang members will be discouraged from staying in the streets during late hours.
Joseph was reportedly shot twice by a Crips member who was only identified as a certain Berly or Choy. Berly shot Joseph after the latter called the attention of a group of 15 youths to stop throwing eggs at vehicles that passed by the area.
Joseph is not a member of a gang. An investigation led by SPO2 Rey Cuyos of the Homicide Section showed the shooting occurred past 11 p.m., Sunday, while Berly’s group, who were also believed to be
gang members, were gathered along Aznar Road celebrating someone’s birthday. Monilar said that for fun, they threw eggs at passing vehicles and were reportedly very noisy. Joseph, who also resides in the area, passed by on board a motorcycle.
Joseph, who knew most of those who were gathered in the area, advised them to stop what they were doing, This, allegedly irked Berly.
Berly walked a few meters away, pulled out a gun and shot Joseph twice. One of the slugs hit the left side of Joseph’s body.
He was rushed by his neighbor Leonard Labay, a habal-habal driver who witnessed the shooting, to the Cebu City Medical Center. Joseph was later transferred to Perpetual Succour Hospital. A joint team from the Pardo Police Station and Homicide Section is still conducting a manhunt against Berly. Berly, 19, reportedly resides on Ramona Village, Talisay City. Monilar, however, said that Berly was no longer found in his house when police operatives looked for him in the area. Ibones said implementing a curfew will greatly help in the prevention and solution of crimes involving gang members. “They have not done anything productive. They are a menace to society,” he said in Cebuano. He said the area where the incident occurred has been identified as one of the areas where gang members gather. Ibones said the presence of gangs, whether it’s Crips or Bloods, has become one of the major problems in Barangay Pardo. He hopes barangay officials will now find the need to implement a curfew.
Cebu City Police Office Director Patrocinio Comendador earlier urged barangay officials to also implement a curfew.