Gunman in reporter's killing shot dead

MANILA, Philippines - The gunman in the killing of a newsman and a policeman on June 3 was shot dead yesterday during an alleged shootout in Taytay, Rizal.

Senior Superintendent Ireneo Dordas, Rizal police director said the suspect Jack Tamondong, a resident of Block 8 Sitio Tapayan, Barangay San Juan, Taytay sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died on the spot.

Dordas said elements of the Special Operations Group headed by Senior Inspector Ariston Dogwe were about to serve an arrest warrant against Tamondong for the killing of Remate reporter Tiburcio “Jojo” Trajano and PO2 Virgilio de la Cruz.

Judge Maria Josephaine Lazaro of the Antipolo City regional trial court Branch 74 ordered Tamondong arrested for the twin killings.

Dordas said he dispatched Dogwe’s team in Sitio Lupang Arenda in Barangay Sta. Ana, Taytay town following reports that Tamondong was sighted there at about 4 p.m.

De la Cruz, and his SOG team, accompanied by Trajano, were about to launch an anti-drug operation in the area on June 3 when he was shot dead by Tamondong and his cohorts, who, are involved in drug pushing in the area. – Non ALquitran