Cops kill 6 crime suspects in Laguna
CALAMBA CITY—Policemen killed six suspected criminals, believed to be also involved in the ambush-slay of a police officer in October, in a reported shoot-out here on Monday morning.
The fatalities had been under police surveillance based on reports that they were behind a series of hijacking and robberies in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) region, said Senior Supt. Fausto Manzanilla, Laguna police director.
Police intelligence reports also showed that they were guns-for-hire.
Five of those killed were identified as Romeo Sagum, of Antipolo City; David Mark Basa, of Malate, Manila; and Nestor “JR” Banog Jr., Alwin Baldeo and Jose Sonny Mendoza, all of San Juan, Batangas.
Manzanilla said one of the cartridges recovered from the shoot-out scene matched those fired from the gun used to kill Insp. Romeo Criste, an operations officer of the Cabuyao City police, on Oct. 19 in Sta. Cruz town, also in Laguna.
Criste, 53, was driving his car along the national highway in Barangay (village) Bubukal when he was fired at by his assailants on board another car. The policeman suffered several bullet wounds, including one in the head.
Recovered from the ambush scene were empty shells fired from a .45 cal. pistol and an
M-16 rifle. In yesterday’s shoot-out, Manzanilla said an M-16 rifle, two 9mm pistols and three .45 cal. guns were recovered from the fatalities.
Members of the regional Police Anti-Organized Crime Task Force tailed the suspects Monday morning after receiving reports that they arrived Sunday night at their hideout in Barangay San Juan, this city. Manzanilla said six were on board a bronze Toyota Innova van, while two were on a blue pick-up truck.
The lawmen flagged down the Innova at around 8:30 a.m. in Barangay Lecheria here, but its passengers opened fire, Manzanilla said. An exchange of gunfire ensued, he added.
The suspects’ companions in the blue truck escaped, police said.
One of those killed was initially identified by his live-in partner as a certain “JR Banog” from San Juan, Batangas. “But we found from his neighbors in Batangas that he was also using other names such JR Reyes or JR Castillo,” Manzanilla said.
“Now even she (the live-in partner) was not sure what his partner’s real name was,” he said.
This piece of information boosted police suspicions that the group was linked to the ambush of Criste, the officer said.
“A certain Jaylon Castillo was arrested in Alaminos (town) over Criste’s murder. Now, the cartridges recovered from the crime scene (Monday morning) matched the gun used to kill Criste,” Manzanilla said. Jamie Elona, INQUIRER.net
Originally posted: 10:56 am | Monday, November 12th, 2012
