Drug suspect, thief slain in Laguna

SAN PEDRO CITY — Two suspected crime suspects were killed in separate shootouts with the police in Laguna province early on Monday.

Suspected drug pusher Rechie Silva, who police said could be between 30 to 35 years old, was killed around 3:30 a.m. in Barangay San Juan, Sta. Cruz after he allegedly resisted arrest and shot policemen during a buy-bust operation, a report from the regional police headquarters said.

Meanwhile, a still unidentified man was also killed by the police around 12:30 a.m. in Barangay Nueva in this city.

According to the police report, a certain Edwin Mancia, earlier sought help from a nearby police outpost after the suspect allegedly took his cellphone, wristwatch, and some P2,000 in cash at gunpoint in Barangay Fatima.

The police immediately chased down the suspect, who they found running along the rail tracks in Barangay Nueva.

The police claimed they asked the man to stop and yield but he instead began shooting at them. The police said they were forced to shoot back.

Authorities brought the wounded suspect to the Amante Hospital but he was proclaimed dead on arrival. /ee