6 suspects slain, cop hurt in Laguna shootouts

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — Five suspected drug personalities and an alleged motorcycle thief were killed while a police officer was wounded in shootouts in Laguna yesterday.

Christopher Gonce, alias Boy, Reynaldo Dante and Wilbert Sardido fired at anti-drug operatives in stings in Barangay Sto. Angel, San Pablo, according to Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) police director.

Eleazar said Dante was a former member of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency who went absent without official leave.

In Calamba, two men who have yet to be identified drew their guns when they sensed they had sold shabu to undercover agents in Barangay Pansol.

An unidentified man accused of taking the motorcycle of Emerson Santos, 40, was also killed in an alleged shootout with responding policemen in Barangay San Vicente, San Pedro at around 3:15 a.m.

Police Officer 1 Lester John Olivera suffered a gunshot wound in the chest and was brought to a hospital for treatment.

Senior Superintendent Kirby John Kraft, Laguna police director, said a caliber .38 revolver, an improvised gun, three caliber .45 pistols, six sachets of shabu and an undetermined amount of money were recovered from the fatalities.

Meanwhile, in Bulacan, Janet Oñate, councilwoman of Barangay Tugatog, Meycauayan, was arrested during a pot session in Barangay Banga. Three sachets of shabu were recovered from the suspect, police said. – With Emmanuel Tupas, Ramon Efren Lazaro