3 Simbahan kidnap gang members killed in Tanauan

Three suspected members of the notorious Simbahan kidnap-for-ransom gang were killed Monday afternoon in a shootout with policemen in Tanauan City, Batangas.

Slain were Lazaro Malabanan, alias Saro; Severino Malabanan, alias Binong; and Gelacio Simbahan.

Malabanan, who carries a P75,000 reward for his capture, along with Simbahan, are both listed as the no. 3 and no. 5 most wanted persons in the Southern Tagalog region, respectively.

Aside from being suspected members of the Simbahan kidnapping group, the suspects have standing arrest warrants on several counts of murder charges filed against them before the Tanauan City regional trial court.

Chief Supt. Jaime Caringal, PNP-Calabarzon police director, said the encounter in Barangay Wawa occurred because the two police teams, who were about to arrest the suspects, were fired upon by the suspects.

Their death brought to 12 suspected active Simbahan gangmen neutralized by the Calabarzon police authorities since it started its crackdown on big-time and organized crime syndicates in Southern Tagalog.

Last week, the Cavite police arrested Benito Simbahan, leader of the kidnap gang in Dasmariñas town. Arrested with him are nine of his trusted men. Two other members of the crime group were nabbed in follow—up operations. — Jaime Laude