1 killed, 5 nabbed as cops clash with armed men in Batangas

Batangas City – A man suspected of carrying illegal firearms was killed while five others were arrested in an encounter with the police in the village of Lanatan in Balayan town, Batangas province on Thursday afternoon, police said Friday.

Senior Inspector Allan De Castro, Balayan police chief, said his office received a phone call at 4:30 pm on Thursday, informing them that passengers of a maroon Honda sedan were carrying firearms.

De Castro dispatched his team to intercept the vehicle.

Upon close encounter, the passengers alighted and fired at the police officers, prompting the latter to retaliate.

A suspect named Nomer Casalla, 38, was killed while his companion, Deo Pujante, whose name had been included on the drug watch list, managed to escape.

Police recovered from the scene one cal. 45 pistol, a magazine and six live ammunition.

But in a follow-up operation, Pujante was arrested with four other companions in his rented apartment in village Munting Tubig, Balayan town.
Police said those arrested included Angelica Pasia, Pujante’s live-in partner; Jocel Jan Villanueva, Menandro Rocaberte and Allan De Lunas.

Seized from their possession were a cal. 45 pistol; five sachets of suspected shabu (crystal meth) and five more grams of the illegal substance in a separate container.

Police said Casalla had an arrest record for robbery on April 19, 2016 with the Balayan police./rga