3 dead in Batangas shootouts

Three men were killed in separate shootouts with the police in Batangas province, authorities said on Friday.

In Malvar town, a suspected drug pusher, identified only as alias Dan, was killed in a buy-bust operation around 3:20 a.m. Friday in Barangay Poblacion, a report from the Calabarzon police said.

The suspect allegedly opened fire with a .45-caliber gun when he realized that the undercover policemen had paid him with counterfeit money during the sting operation.

The suspect tried to escape on his motorcycle towards Barangay San Pedro 1 but policemen caught up with him. He died from bullet wounds during the shootout.

At the same time in San Jose town, a still unidentified man was killed in a shootout with patrolling policemen in Barangay Taysan.

The police said they were conducting an inspection of feed mills and other establishments along the national highway when they spotted the suspect standing near one of the stores.

The man drew the police’s attention as he was wearing a hoodie and his face was covered with a mask.

When approached, the suspect allegedly fired shots, prompting the police to shoot him down. He was rushed to the San Jose District Hospital but died on the way.

Police recovered from him a .38-caliber gun and several tools like a steel cutter and a crowbar.

In Bauan, suspected drug pusher Christopher Reynaldo was killed in a buy-bust operation around 11 p.m. Thursday in Barangay Sinala.

Police said Reynaldo shot the undercover policemen which triggered the shootout. He died on the way to the Bauan Doctors General Hospital.

Police said several residents had been complaining about the suspect’s alleged involvement in illegal drug pushing.

He was also charged with raping his seven-year-old daughter multiple times in the past, the police report said.

Recovered from the suspect were a .38-caliber gun and seven sachets of alleged shabu./lzb