TWO of the three wounded robbery suspects who engaged the police in a gun battle at the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) in Barangay Turo, Bocaue, Bulacan, on Friday afternoon have been released from the hospital and are now under the custody of the Bocaue Municipal Police Station.
The third suspect, however, remained at the Joni Villanueva General Hospital.
Bulacan Police Provincial Office director Col. Jay Baybayan said the three suspects will face multiple charges, including frustrated murder, direct assault, illegal possession of firearms, illegal possession of explosives and violation of the Comprehensive Drugs Act of 2002.
The suspects were intercepted by joint operatives at the NLEx tollgate in Bocaue.
Their vehicle was flagged down by authorities but instead of surrendering, the suspects opened fire at the operatives, causing the police to fire back, wounding the three suspects.
After the encounter at the southbound lane of NLEx, two firearms, three grenades, a flash bang and suspected drugs (shabu and marijuana) were recovered from the possession of the suspects identified by the police as Jonathan Perez, Jerome Nabuson and Reymark Padilla.
Baybayan said the suspects were reportedly linked to robbery incidents in Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and National Capital Region, including the recent heists in Magalang, Pampanga, on June 22 and Victoria, Tarlac, on June 24.