TWO of the five suspected members of the Gapos Gang killed in a shootout with authorities in Bacoor City, Cavite on Tuesday were former police officers, the Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed Wednesday. PNP spokesperson Colonel Allen Rae Co disclosed that one of the two had already been dismissed from the service, while the other went absent without official leave (AWOL) in February 2026. Both were linked to the same robbery case in Caloocan, marking a troubling case of personnel leaving the force and joining criminal groups.
The violent confrontation unfolded around noon in Barangay Molino as police intercepted the group, which was reportedly preparing to enter a residential subdivision. The suspects attempted to flee — some aboard a motorcycle and others in a sedan that overturned during the pursuit — and opened fire on officers, prompting an exchange of gunfire that left all five dead at the scene. Co revealed that the AWOL staff sergeant disappeared shortly after coming under investigation for his alleged role in the Caloocan robbery, suggesting the officer may have joined the criminal syndicate while already under scrutiny.
The PNP has emphasized that the incident underscores the need for stricter monitoring of personnel who leave the service under questionable circumstances. Authorities are now working to formally identify all five slain suspects, trace their associates, and determine the full scope of their activities. No police personnel were hurt in the operation, and investigators continue to piece together the group’s plans and any potential accomplices still at large.
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