6 criminal gang members dead in Rizal shootout

SAN PEDRO CITY – Six alleged members of a criminal gang were killed in a shootout with the police in Rodriguez town in Rizal province on Tuesday.

Supt. Chitadel Gaoiran, spokesperson of the Calabarzon  police, said the shootout happened around 8 a.m. in Barangay San Isidro.

Members of the Rizal police intelligence unit conducted a buy-bust operation that targeted Henry Bersona, the alleged leader of the so-called “Waray-waray” Group.

“The transaction with our poseur buyers was consummated but the suspects must have had the feeling they just dealt with the police and began to shoot,” said Rizal police director Sr. Supt. Lou Evangelista, in a phone interview.

Instantly killed were Bersona, an alias “Atan,” and four other male suspects the police have yet to identify.

Evangelista said the group was involved in the illegal drugs trade, car theft, and robberies in Rizal, while Bersona faced a standing warrant for killing his neighbor in October last year for “reporting upon” the group’s activities.

The police said they recovered six guns of different calibers and a hand grenade. Also recovered were suspected shabu (crystal meth) worth about P100,000.

“If you’d see the house (of the suspects), it was really dirty, with several empty containers used for the shabu,” he added. # Maricar Cinco, @maricarcincoINQ, Inquirer Southern Luzon