3 dead, 1 hurt in shootout with Calabarzon cops

SAN PEDRO CITY – Three drug and crime suspects were killed after putting up a fight against policemen in separate incidents in the Calabarzon region on Wednesday. 

Mark Monty Soriano was killed during a buy-bust operation around 3:30 a.m. in Barangay Marinig, Cabuyao City, Laguna. 

A report from the regional police office said Soriano sold a sachet of suspected shabu (crystal meth) to undercover policemen but he started shooting just before the authorities tried to arrest him.

The police recovered a .38 caliber gun from Soriano. 

An anti-drug police operation in Binangonan, Rizal also left Renato Certeza dead. Certeza was reportedly a member of the Certeza Group that operated in Binangonan and nearby Rizal towns.

The report said the buy-bust operation happened around 12:30 a.m. in Barangay Tagpos, where Certeza also allegedly shoot it out with the law enforcers. 

In Barangay Marawoy, Lipa City, Batangas, the police arrested Roldan de Castro in a buy-bust around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

De Castro came with two unidentified male companions but after the sale, de Castro suddenly drew out and fired his gun, the police claimed.

He hit a civilian bystander identified as Ronel Nopera. The police rushed Nopera to a hospital while the two other suspects managed to flee.

Still in Batangas, a still unidentified suspect was killed in a shootout around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday in Malvar town. 

According to the police, Ruel Mata, earlier came to their office after his motorcycle was allegedly stolen by two men. 

The police chased the suspects, identified based on the victim’s description until they were spotted in Barangay San Pedro 1. 

The suspects opened fire, forcing the policemen to shoot back and hit one of them. The other suspect had escaped.