2 cops dead, civilian hurt in Batangas shooting

BATANGAS CITY—Two police officers died while a civilian bystander was hurt when unidentified gunmen shot at them in Tanauan City in Batangas province on Wednesday night, police said Thursday.

Senior Inspector Hazel Luma-Ang, Batangas police information officer, identified the fatalities as Police Officer 3 Edgar Oba-Ob and PO1 Ryan Cedric De Guzman while wounded was civilian Bendio Valencia who was at the police assistance center at Barangay (village) Tinurik to watch television with the policemen.

The victims were fired upon by at least 10 armed men wearing bonnets and on board three vehicles—red van, white van and white sedan—at about 10 p.m. The police officers died on the spot while Valencia was brought to the Laurel Hospital for treatment.

Recovered from the crime scene were five empty shells of a caliber .45 gun and eight shells from an automatic assault rifle.

Police have yet to identify the suspects and they are still establishing the motive behind the shooting. JPV