Crime gang leader, 4 cohorts slain in Batangas

Malvar, Batangas — The suspected leader and four members of the dreaded "Black Shark Group," tagged in car thefts, highway robberies, hired killings, ransom kidnappings and "paihi"(petroleum pilferage) cases in Southern Tagalog, were killed in a shootout with elements of the Traffic Management Group (TMG) here Thursday night.

Chief Superintendent Ricardo Quinto, TMG-National Capital Region director, said the gang members shot it out with his men who were to serve the warrant of arrest for their leader, Ricardo Manalo, for a murder case in their safehouse in Sitio Calamiasan, Barangay San Fernando here.

Manalo’s four slain henchmen remained unidentified. Their bodies were brought to Reycon Funeral Homes in Barangay San Pioquinto here.

Quinto said one of his men, PO3 Alexander Angeles, a member of Special Action Force-Task Force Limbas, was killed in the 15-minute gunfight.

Angeles was rushed to the Mercado General Hospital in Tanauan City where he died while he was being treated.

Superintendent Apolinar Felipe, chief of the TMG-Region 4A office, said Manalo’s group had been under surveillance for at least a year.

Authorities said Manalo’s group is just part of a larger syndicate operating primarily in Batangas, Laguna and Quezon.    

Found in the group’s safehouse were an Armalite rifle, two caliber .45 pistols, a caliber .22 rifle, assorted magazines and ammunition, and a Toyota Revo with license plate UEC 265. — With Ed Amoroso and Cecille Suerte Felipe