6 more suspects in Batangas ambush-slay identified

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna , Philippines   â€“ Police have identified six other suspects in last Friday’s ambush in Batangas City that left a police officer, a former policeman and one of the armed men dead.

Senior Superintendent Jireh Omega Fidel, Batangas police director, said they were able to identify the killers of SPO4 Fidel Macatangay and former PO3 Melvin Talabis through the footage of a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera installed near the ambush site.

He said the pictures of the suspected members of the so-called “Waray-Waray gang” will be released soon.

The slain suspect was identified as one Avelino Ulbata.

Fidel said the CCTV footage showed that Ulbata’s group had positioned itself in the area for nearly one hour before the victims’ Isuzu Crosswind passed by at around 5:30 p.m. last Friday.

Fidel said tracker teams have been fielded to go after the six other suspects believed hiding in Batangas and nearby provinces.

Police are eyeing revenge as possible motive, noting that Talabis was the only witness in the gun-slaying of a junior police officer in San Pascual, Batangas last November, Fidel said.

He said they were investigating if two men who were arrested in a hot pursuit operation for illegal possession of firearms were also involved in the ambush-killing.

Macatangay and Talabis were on their way home when they were waylaid in Barangay Sta. Rita, Batangas City. Although wounded, Macatangay was able to shoot back, killing Ulbata.