Suspected crime gang leader slain in Caloocan shootout

MANILA, Philippines - Northern Police District-Special Operations Unit (NPD-SOU) police officers killed a man who allegedly led a crime gang in Caloocan City during an encounter Sunday afternoon.

NPD director Chief Superintendent Antonio Decano said as Blandido Bansalan, alias Bosing, 35, a resident of Barangay 176 in Bagong Silang, died on the spot from a gunshot wound in the chest.

NPD-SOU head Chief Inspector Bartolome Tarnate said he and his men were verifying reports that a robbery gang, which is also into drug pushing and gunrunning, has a safehouse in Barangay 176 when they found out about Bansalan’s house at around 4:45 p.m.

One of the undercover policemen knocked on Bansalan’s house, pretending to be a gun buyer. But while he was talking to Bansalan, someone shouted that he was a police officer. “After the shout, gunshots were fired from different directions,” Tarnate told The STAR.

In the ensuing gun battle, which lasted for more than 10 minutes, Bansalan was killed, Tarnate said.

Tarnate said the timely arrival of a team led by Chief Inspector Moner Orang forced Bansalan’s men to withdraw. He said Bansalan’s group, composed of at least 10 armed men, is linked to a number of robberies and murders in Bagong Silang.