3 suspects dead in Batangas shootout

SAN PEDRO CITY—Three suspected gunmen, who attacked patrolling police officers, were killed in a shootout in Lemery, Batangas on Tuesday.

A report from the Batangas police headquarters identified the slain men as Roberto Apego, 52 from Balayan; Alexander Canonoy, 35, of Nasugbu, and Rafael Montes, 29, of Calatagan, all in Batangas province.

Authorities have yet to provide any other detail as to the suspects’ background, as they were identified based only on the identification cards recovered from the scene.

But the police said the three men were responsible for an earlier gun attack against law enforcement officers in Balayan town around 2:45 a.m. Tuesday.

Balayan police were on patrol when gunmen on two motorcycles drove by and opened fire in Barangay Ermita.

No one was reported hurt in the gun attack as the suspects escaped towards Lemery town.

According to the police report, the suspects drove past policemen in Barangay Sinisian West, Lemery, who happened to be in the vicinity for another operation.

This prompted a chase along Diokno Highway until the suspects were cornered in Barangay Mahabang Dahilig.

The suspects opened fire, prompting authorities to return fire and kill them, the police report said.

Recovered were two guns, a submachine gun and two motorcycles.

One of the suspects’ vehicles was allegedly used as a getaway vehicle in the killing of Senior Police Officer 1 Roderick Botavara last November 11 in Balayan town./lzb