CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna (UPDATE) – Eight alleged members of a robbery-holdup gang were killed in a shootout after ramming through a police checkpoint in Candelaria town, Quezon province early Monday.

Senior Superintendent Francis Elmo Sarona, Quezon police director, identified four of the eight suspects as Roger Baylon of Cainta, Rizal; Jojo Salazar of Magsaysay, Quezon City; Samuel Lunico of Rosario, Albay; and Gilbert Mauricio of Las Pinas City.

Sarona said the suspects were onboard a Toyota Hi-Ace van on Maharlika Highway when they were flagged down at a checkpoint in Barangay Bukal Sur, Candelaria at 5:15 a.m.

Instead of stopping, the suspects rammed the checkpoint’s barricade, triggering a running gunbattle. Police said the suspects were neutralized upon reaching the second checkpoint that was installed a few meters away.

Police recovered one Carbine rifle, a 9-MM pistol, three caliber 45 pistols, a caliber 38 revolver, an M-203 grenade launcher and bank checks amounting  to P800,000.00 from the suspects' vehicle.

Sarona said he received an intelligence report that the suspects were planning to rob a business establishment in Lucena.

The Land Transportation Office, meanwhile, said the vehicle could be stolen since its plate number (ZDM-912) was fake.

Authorities have yet to determine the affiliation of the gunmen. – With a report from ANC