Cop, robber killed in shootout in Compostela Valley

TAGUM CITY, Philippines—A policeman and a suspected robber were killed  while another police officer was wounded during a shootout in Nabunturan, Compostela Valley Tuesday morning, police authorities said.

Chief Inspector Hector Grijaldo, Nabunturan police chief, identified the slain policeman as Senior Police Officer 1 Julambri Astapan  while the slain robber had yet to be identified.

Grijaldo said the police got a distress call about an armed man who was forcing his way into the house of a businessman in Barangay Poblacion around 8 a.m.

He said policemen caught up with the suspect but instead of yielding, the robber engaged them in a firefight.

Grijaldo said during the shootout, Astapan was hit in the chest and died, while another policeman, Police Officer 1 Edward Lagura, was grazed by another bullet from the suspect’s handgun.

He said the authorities recovered a Daewoo 9-millimeter pistol from the slain suspect, who was in his late-20s.