Caloocan car theft suspect killed in ‘shootout’ with police

MANILA — Caloocan City’s eighth most wanted person was killed after he shot it out with policemen who were trying to arrest him on Sunday afternoon.

Jason Ariño, a car theft suspect who was ordered arrested in September 2014 by Judge Georgina Hidalgo of the Caloocan City Regional Trial Court Branch 122, was cornered near his house in Barangay 188, Barrio Sta. Rita South in Tala, Caloocan.

The police said Arino, 37, was the known leader of a four-man gang believed to be behind a number of car and motorcycle theft cases in Caloocan, Bulacan province and other areas.

Ariño, who had been under surveillance for two weeks, refused to surrender when an arresting team led by Insp. Cecilio Tomas Jr. went to his house around 1 p.m., according to the city’s police chief, Senior Supt. Bartolome Bustamante.

The suspect fired two shots at the policemen while running away from his house, prompting them to shoot back, Bustamante said in his report.

Ariño sustained several gunshot wounds in the body and was brought to the Dr. Jose Rodriguez Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Budios said Ariño had been in hiding in Bulacan before he returned to Caloocan, and that his family members were aware that he had a pending arrest warrant.

Recovered from him were a .38-caliber pistol and several rounds of ammunition.  – Jodee A. Agoncillo, SFM