Cop killers among 7 slain in Calabarzon ops

SAN PEDRO CITY – Separate anti-drug police operations left seven people dead, including the alleged gunmen in the killing of a police officer, in the Calabarzon region.

In Antipolo City in Rizal province, police conducted a buy bust operation around 11 p.m. Monday that targeted drug suspect Bong Chavez in Sitio Maagay, Barangay Inarawan.

A report from the regional police said Chavez, aside from peddling drugs, also led the “Bong Chavez-gun-for-hire group” that operated in Southern and Central Luzon and Metro Manila.

It said the group was behind the ambush of Supt. Ramy Tagnong, legal officer of the Calabarzon police, in Antipolo City last May.

Police said Chavez opened fire during the buy bust operation prompting law enforcers to shoot back.

He and two still unidentified cohorts were killed instantly. The police recovered over a hundred grams of shabu (crystal meth) worth P680,000 and four guns of different calibers.

It was just about the same time on Monday when suspect Ricky Escanilla was also slain in an anti-drug operation in Barangay Trapiche in Tanauan City, Batangas.

Escanilla earlier surrendered to the government’s anti-drugs drive but later went back to the narcotics trade, the police said.

The police said Escanilla resisted arrest by shooting at policemen. He was hit when the police shot back and died on the way to the CP Reyes hospital in the city.

In Calamba City, in Laguna, a buy bust operation also led to the death of suspect Arvin Vergara around 5 p.m. Monday in Barangay Majada.

Meanwhile, the police arrested his companions identified as Juan Paolo Dimaano, 35; Ruben Borja, 40; Ronaldo Tapia; and Froila Cataquiez, most of them tricycle drivers.

The police said Vergara tried to escape by engaging law enforcers in a gunfight. The police recovered a .45-caliber pistol and suspected shabu worth P12,000 packed separately in plastic sachets.

In Imus City, in Cavite, two still unidentified suspected criminals were killed in a police shootout around 2 a.m. Tuesday in Barangay Alapan 2B.

An initial report said the police chased the suspects who attempted to flee during a gunfight. /cbb