1 hurt in Cavite gun fight on eve of elections

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines—A man was wounded in a gun battle between a still unidentified armed group and the police in Cavite City on Sunday evening.

Initial report from the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) police director, Chief Supt. Benito Estipona, said the encounter erupted between the lawmen and a group of armed men around 10:30 p.m. in Barangay (village) Bawan-bawan in Cavite City.

Among the armed suspects, he said, was initially reported as an ex-convict.

“One of the suspects was shot and was already taken to the hospital. Aside from that, I’m also still waiting for reports from the provincial (police) director who is on the ground conducting an investigation,” he said in a phone interview.

Supt. Rommel Estolano, the Cavite police information officer, said in a text message said that a concerned citizen reported that a shooting happened in Barangay Bagong Pook around 9:30 p.m. on Sunday.

The policemen who responded to the scene encountered the armed men on board a car and on a van and engaged the lawmen in a gun exchange.