Alleged drug dealer, 2 robbers killed in Rizal

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Philippines — An alleged bigtime drug dealer and two suspected highway robbers were slain in what police claimed to be separate encounters with lawmen in Taytay, Rizal early Thursday.

Oliver Taib was killed after he allegedly fired at policemen who went to his home in Barangay (village)Sta. Ana to arrest him at around 6:30 a.m., Rizal police director Senior Superintendent Manuel Prieto said in a telephone interview.

Prieto said Taib was a notorious drug dealer whose group was responsible for the 2009 shootout, also in Taytay, in which a policeman and tabloid reporter Jojo Trajano were killed.  In 2010, Police Officer 2 Hector Sabile of the Taytay Police intelligence unit was also slain in an encounter with Taib’s group, Prieto said.

In an incident earlier on Thursday, two unidentified men riding tandem on a motorcycle were slain by policemen at around 3 a.m. in Barangay San Juan.

The two men had allegedly held up a man at a burger stand and sped away toward Tapayan Road. A civilian witness reported the robbery to the police, who in turn chased the suspects in Barangay San Juan.

Police recovered .38-caliber and .22-caliber pistols from the alleged robbers and a  .45-caliber gun from Taib.