2 crime suspects shot dead in Laguna

SAN PEDRO CITY — Two men tagged by the police as members of a gun-for-hire gang were shot and killed in Biñan City in Laguna province early Sunday.

Police identified them as Lope Espejo Jr., 52, and Randy Avila, both were residents of Biñan City.

Initial report from Laguna police said the two were standing in front of a paint store along the national highway in Barangay (village) Canlalay when they were shot at by unidentified suspects around 8:45 a.m.

The gunmen escaped towards San Pedro City after the incident.

The Laguna police said it has records of Espejo being a former rebel before he became a member of a criminal group involved in contract killings and illegal drugs.

JE