Alleged thief, gun runner, killed in separate Laguna shootouts

SAN PEDRO CITY, Philippines — A suspected gun runner and an alleged thief were killed in separate police shootouts in the adjacent cities of Cabuyao and Calamba in Laguna province, early Friday.

In Cabuyao City, a man identified only as an alias “James” was killed in an entrapment operation around 1:30 a.m. in Barangay (village) Sala, said Sr. Supt. Eleazar Matta, in a text message.

Aside from selling illegal firearms, Matta said the suspect was allegedly a member of the Banzon crime group and the “right hand” of top drug dealer Joel Buarao of Los Baños town.

James reportedly sold guns worth around P13,000, but suddenly opened fire when he realized that he was dealing with undercover police officers. The police officers then returned fire, killing the suspect.

Recovered from the suspect were a caliber .38 revolver and .9 mm pistol.

Meanwhile, in Calamba City, police officers gunned down a still identified man during a pursuit operation around midnight in Barangay Pansol.

Earlier that night, a woman sought police assistance after a man held her at gunpoint and took her bag, as she was waiting for a ride in front of a popular resort in the same village.

Responding policemen later spotted the man, who allegedly resisted arrest and opened fire.

Police then shot back at the suspect who later died while undergoing treatment at the Jose P. Rizal Hospital in the same city.