Cops kill 7 in Calabarzon anticrime operations

SAN PEDRO CITY — Seven people, among them suspects in the killing of a police officer, died in gunfights with policemen in separate anticrime operations in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and, Quezon) region on Monday and Tuesday.

In Rizal province, Bong Chavez and two still unidentified men died after they engaged policemen in a shootout during a drug bust at Barangay Inarawan in Antipolo City on Monday night.

Recovered from Chavez and his companions were 100 grams of “shabu” (crystal meth) worth P680,000 and four guns.

A report from the regional police said Chavez’s group was behind the attack that killed Supt. Ramy Tagnong, legal officer of Calabarzon police, in Antipolo last month.

It was just about the same time on Monday when drug suspect Ricky Escanilla was killed at Barangay Trapiche in Tanauan City, Batangas province.

Escanilla, police said, resisted arrest and shot policemen conducting a drug bust. He was hit when policemen retaliated.

In Laguna province, Arvin Vergara died in a shootout with policemen conducting a drug bust at 5 p.m. Monday at Barangay Majada, Calamba City.

In Cavite province, two unidentified men suspected of stealing a motorcycle were killed after a police chase and shootout at Barangay Alapan 2B, Imus City, at 2 a.m. Tuesday. —Maricar Cinco