2 cops shot dead in Batangas City

MANILA, Philippines–Two policemen have been shot dead while on board a sport utility vehicle by a gunman and his still unidentified cohorts in Batangas.

Batangas provincial police said Saturday that SPO4 Fidel Macatangay and former POR Melvin Talabis were gunned down on Friday by a certain Avelino Ulbata De Paz, who also died on the spot.

Senior Inspector Dwight Fonte, Batangas police spokesperson, said Macatangay and Talabis were boarding an Isuzu Crosswind in Barangay (village) Santa Rita when de Paz and his accomplices fired at them.

Fonte said the two policemen managed to return fire leading to the death of de Paz.

The victims were brought to the hospital but to no avail.

De Paz was found dead 30 meters away from the crime scene, according to the police.

Police are still conducting a hot pursuit operation for the other missing gunmen.