Police Captain Killed in Marilao Shootout Following Convenience Store Robbery
A police official met his demise while attempting to evade arrest after committing a robbery at a convenience store in Marilao, Bulacan on Monday, November 10, 2025. The incident culminated in a fatal encounter with pursuing officers, revealing the suspect's identity as an active member of the Philippine National Police.
The Robbery and Police Response
According to Colonel Angel Garcillano during a press conference at Camp Crame on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, Marilao police initiated a dragnet operation around 7 p.m. after receiving a distress call from a convenience store employee. The report detailed a robbery committed by a lone suspect wearing a distinctive red hoodie who immediately fled the scene.
The responding police officers successfully cornered the suspect in a nearby barangay after tracking his movements. Investigation revealed that the suspect had attempted to evade capture by passing through another barangay, where he shook off pursuit, removed his red jacket, and began scouting for potential second victims.
Colonel Garcillano provided crucial details about the identification process: "We have the affidavit of the convenience store crew member, and let me inform everyone that during the dragnet operation, the crew member was present inside the patrol car. When the suspect's motorcycle overtook them, that was when the victim identified him, primarily recognizing the motorcycle itself."
Fatal Encounter and Suspect Identification
The situation escalated when the suspect attempted to engage police officers in a firefight, prompting them to return fire. The confrontation proved fatal for the suspect. Authorities later recovered critical evidence from the suspect's motorcycle compartment, including the red hoodie jacket and the stolen money from the convenience store.
National Capital Region Police Office spokesperson Major Hazel Asilo identified the deceased suspect as Police Captain Ronnie Sarto, who served as assistant chief of the Investigation and Detective Management Section of the Caloocan City Police Station.
Investigative Findings and Possible Motives
Major Asilo revealed troubling background information about the police officer's circumstances. "Based on our investigation, they previously had a business that went bankrupt during the pandemic. So that's possibly the reason why he experienced financial hardship," she explained during the press conference.
Further financial scrutiny uncovered that Police Captain Sarto was heavily indebted at the time of the incident. Major Asilo added: "Based on our checks, he was already heavily burdened by loans," suggesting that extreme financial pressure may have driven the police officer to commit the robbery.
The incident has raised serious questions about the welfare and monitoring of police personnel, particularly those experiencing financial difficulties. The recovery of both the stolen money and the distinctive red hoodie from the motorcycle compartment provided conclusive evidence linking the police officer to the convenience store robbery.
