2 suspected gunrunners killed in QC shootout

Two suspected gunrunners were killed in a shootout with members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Barangay Payatas, Quezon City on Wednesday.

According to a report from the Quezon City Police District on Thursday, prior to the shootout, a buy-bust operation was set against a certain Jose Guevarra alias Jopal. Guevarra, police said, was the leader of a gunrunning syndicate operating in Quezon City and nearby areas.

Police said Guevarra arrived with two other unidentified suspects at the area where the bust was set.

Guevarra apparently sensed that he was dealing with an undercover police officer, then fled onboard a car and left behind his companions. Police said his car has a “for registration” plate.

Police said Guevarra’s two companions then opened fire at the police officers, prompting the CIDG agents to return fire, killing the two suspects immediately.

Police described the unidentified dead suspects as about 30 or 40 years of age, about 5-foot-tall. Both have tattoos and wore gray t-shirts.

Recovered from the suspects were a grenade, a .22 caliber revolver with four bullets, a .38 caliber revolver with three bullets, two homemade guns or “sumpak” with a spent cartridge case, four bullets for a .38 caliber revolver, two bullets for 12 gauge shotgun, five sachets of “shabu,” and the P2,000 marked cash used in the bust.

A manhunt operation for the arrest of Guevarra has been launched, said QCPD Director Chief Superintendent Joselito Esquivel. /muf