8 dead, 2 hurt in Laguna shootouts

SAN PEDRO CITY – Eight suspected criminals, most of them tagged as illegal drug pushers, were killed in separate police operations in Laguna province.

The incidents happened between Wednesday evening and during the early hours of Thursday, according to reports consolidated from the Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon regional police.

In Bay town, a police report said suspects Isagani Rivera and an alias “Toothpick” tried to sell guns to undercover policemen in Barangay (village) Dila, around 3 a.m. Thursday.

According to the report, the suspects suddenly opened fire during the transaction, prompting police to shoot back.

“Toothpick” was killed in the shootout while Rivera escaped on a motorcycle.

At the same time in Biñan City, police shot and injured Leo Strell after he shot another policeman four times in the chest in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Canlalay.

The police officer, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, was unhurt while Strell, who was included in the police’s watchlist for drugs, was being treated for gunshot wounds.

In Los Baños, a male suspect identified only as an alias “Noli” was killed during a buy-bust operation around 1 a.m. in Barangay Timugan. The police said they recovered a sachet of suspected “shabu” (crystal meth), a revolver, and an unmarked motorcycle.

In San Pablo City, drug suspects Leonardo Perez and Harry Kris Landicho were both killed in separate buy-busts around 11:45 p.m. in Barangay II-B and around 9:45 p.m. in Barangay San Francisco on Wednesday, respectively. The police recovered a sachet of suspected shabu from each operation.

In Nagcarlan town, an alias “Irilo” and his still unidentified companion were killed around 11 p.m. Wednesday in Barangay Yucos. The suspect tried to sell a sachet of shabu to undercover Police Officer 3 Danny Piol.

During the transaction, the suspect allegedly fired shots prompting a police backup to return fire and kill both men. Piol was hit on his right leg.

In Calamba City, the police killed Resel Ortega in an operation around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday in Barangay Turbina when he fired at policemen who shot back in defense.

In Cabuyao City, a still unidentified male suspect was killed around 5 a.m. Thursday in Barangay Banlic.

According to the police report, village watchmen noticed the suspect and his companion “suspiciously” driving around the village on a motorcycle.

Thought to be thieves, the village officials sought help from the city police, who when they were about to apprehend the suspects, were suddenly fired upon, the police claimed.

The police returned fire and killed one of them while the other escaped on his motorcycle. The police recovered a .45 caliber gun from the scene.