6 guns-for-hire killed in Calamba shootout

CALAMBA CITY, Laguna, Philippines – Six suspected guns-for-hire, including their alleged leader, were killed in an encounter with policemen in Barangay Lecheria, in this city yesterday morning.

Chief Superintendent Abner Dimabuyu, deputy regional director for administration in Region 4A, identified the fatalities as Nestor Pera Banog Jr., the alleged leader of the gang; Romeo Leviste Sagun; Alwin Magbujos Baldeo; David Mark Sanding Basa; and Jose Sonny Bruel Mendoza.

The sixth slain suspect has yet to be identified.

Dimabuyu said five of the suspects were killed on the spot while Mendoza was declared dead on arrival at the JP Hospital in Barangay Real.

At least three .45 caliber pistols, a 9mm pistol, a baby Armalite, sketches of the group’s alleged targets, a bull cap with the letters ”NBI” and a brown Toyota Innova (TDI-214)  were recovered from the suspects.

Senior Superintendent Fausto Manzanilla, Laguna police director, said the  group is also believed to be behind the killing of police officer Romeo Creste in Cabuyao town three weeks ago.

“This group also dubbed as the Laguna-Batangas connection is under the watchlist of the Laguna police. They are guns-for-hire and involved in robbery, carjacking, hijacking and assassination of police officers and politicians,” Manzanilla told The STAR.

He said the suspects had just come out of their hideout in Barangay San Juan in Batangas when they encountered the policemen at around 8:30 a.m.

Manzanilla said members of the Regional Special Operation Group-4A were dispatched to conduct a dragnet operation against the suspects after receiving a tip from undercover agents.

When police operatives flagged down the vehicle of the suspects, the suspects opened fire, triggering a 15-minute gunfight. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe