3 crime suspects killed in Calabarzon shootouts

Suspected drug pusher Ronnel Ramirez was killed during a buy bust operation in Barangay San Salvador, Lipa City, Batangas. Ramirez allegedly shot a policeman during the operation in order to escape arrest. PHOTO FROM BATANGAS PNP

SAN PEDRO CITY — Three persons, allegedly involved in robbery and illegal drug trade, were killed in separate shootouts with the police during the wee hours on Sunday in the Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon (Calabarzon) region.

In Laguna, a shootout happened around 1:25 a.m. in Barangay (village) Nueva, this city, after Marivic Belonio reported to police that two armed men took her bag as she was walking through a tunnel along the San Vicente road, said regional police spokesperson Supt. Chitadel Gaoiran.

Gaoiran said a roving police team chased down the suspects towards the rail tracks. The suspect started firing at the policemen, who shot back and killed one of them.

The police have yet to identify the slain man, while the other suspect had escaped.

In Batangas, alleged drug peddler Ronnel Ramirez was killed in a buy bust operation around 12:15 a.m. in Barangay San Salvador, Lipa City.

Gaoiran said Ramirez and a still unidentified accomplice shot Police Officer 3 Joel Lalamunan twice in the chest in order to escape arrest.

Lalamunan, who was wearing a bullet proof vest, fired back and hit Ramirez, while the other suspect was able to escape.

Ramirez was taken to the Mary Mediatrix Medical Center but died minutes later. The police recovered a caliber .38 gun and eyeglasses case that contained suspected “shabu” (crystal meth) and marijuana.

In Cavite, members of the Special Weapons and Tactics unit killed a still unidentified man who allegedly stole a motorcycle in Bacoor City around 1:20 a.m.

The report said the victim, Froilan Espenida, sought police help following the robbery near a convenience store in Barangay Habay 1.  The responding policemen chased the suspect towards the Daang Bukid road where the suspect began to open fire.

The suspect was hit when the police retaliated and died on the way to a hospital. /je