5 suspected robbers, drug pushers dead in Laguna

SAN PEDRO CITY – Five people suspected of illegal drug pushing and robbery were slain in separate shootouts with the police in Laguna province, police said Monday.

Laguna police director Sr. Supt. Eleazar Matta, in a series of text messages, said the anti-crime and drug operations were carried out from late night Sunday to early hours on Monday when all suspects were killed after resisting arrest.

In this city, Rodante Aragao was killed in a buy-bust operation around 1:45 a.m. in Barangay (village) Landayan.

San Pedro police chief Supt. Giovannie Martinez said Aragao, who was in the police drug watchlist, transported drugs as a jeepney driver plying the San Pedro-Pasay City route and led a group of thieves that operated in Laguna.

Also included in the police watchlist was suspect Roberto Paredes who was killed in a buy-bust operation around 11 p.m. in Barangay Pooc, Sta. Rosa City.

Like Aragao, Paredes allegedly opened fire when he realized he was dealing with the police.

In Calamba City, Raul Alex was killed in a buy-bust in Barangay San Cristobal around 2:30 a.m.

Recovered from the scene were a 5.56-caliber gun, nine sachets of suspected “shabu” (crystal meth), and a bicycle.

In the adjacent city of Cabuyao, two unidentified men were killed in a shootout with police in Barangay Mamatid around 2 a.m. The suspects were allegedly members of the Termite Gang, a term used for robbers whose modus was to burrow through the floor or walls of a targeted establishment.

Police, acting on reports of “suspicious” activities of the men, came to inspect the house they rented but the suspects allegedly fired shots, forcing the authorities to retaliate.

Both suspects died while being taken to the Ospital ng Cabuyao.