Land dispute as reason for fatal shootout between 2 cops, lawyer – PNP

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo —INQUIRER.net file photo/Arnel Tacson

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police on Monday said it is looking into a land dispute as one of the reasons behind the fatal shootout between two police personnel and a lawyer.

“One of the motives we are looking at is the land dispute between the party represented by the lawyer and the two fatalities,” said PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo in a press conference in Filipino.

Aboard a car, Police Captain Adrian Binalay and Police Captain Tomas Ganio Batarao Jr., along with a civilian companion, inquired in Tagaytay City, Cavite on Sunday about a land, according to Police Regional Office-4 report.

READ: 2 cops, 1 civilian killed in Tagaytay City shootout

The PRO-4 said the two were warned by a security guard not to enter the premises.

But Binalay and Batarao, along with a civilian companion, still entered as they had already purchased the lot, according to Fajardo.

But upon entering, two people who claimed to be owners were already in the land, according to her.

An lawyer, who rushed to the scene, went out to his car and opened fire on the victims from inside their vehicle, with Binalay and Batarao also retaliating.

The two cops, along with the lawyer died from fatal gunshot wounds, the PRO-4 said. But Fajardo said there are three people shooting at the victims.

After the incident, two other people were immediately arrested and are now under police custody, while another suspect remains at large.