News Briefs: Jan. 17, 2019

5 crime suspects killed at checkpoints

Five people have already been killed at checkpoints set up just last weekend by the Philippine National Police  for the midterm elections.

The PNP, however, said the cases of the five killed at checkpoints in Central Luzon since Sunday were isolated and involved crime suspects.

Chief Supt. Benigno Durana Jr., PNP spokesperson, said the five killed didn’t stop at the checkpoints and “decided to shoot it out with law enforcers.”

Since the election period began on Sunday, the PNP has conducted more than 10,000 checkpoint operations nationwide. —Jaymee Gamil

PH deports former Chinese gov’t exec

Philippine officials have turned over to China a former government official wanted for economic crime and corruption.

Xie Haojie was arrested on Sunday in an operation coordinated with Chinese authorities.

The 49-year-old is wanted back home on charges of corruption amounting to almost P11 billion. Philippine immigration officials handed him over on Wednesday to Chinese authorities. —Reports from AP and Tina G. Santos

Gov’ troops clash with BIFF

Government soldiers clashed with Islamic State (IS) followers at a village of Shariff Saydona town in Maguindanao province. Maj. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, head of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said soldiers recovered four rifles and materials for making bombs at the clash site. —Edwin O. Fernandez