Murder suspect, gang leader killed in shootout

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna , Philippines  – A murder suspect tagged as responsible in the string of criminal activities in Noveleta town and a notorious gang leader were killed in separate shootouts in Cavite and Laguna, respectively, police said yesterday.

Police Superintendent Alfred Corpus, Cavite provincial director, said the slain suspect, Rodolfo Quijano, 30, alias Dodok, a resident of Caridad subdivision, was listed as the No.1 Most Wanted Person in Noveleta town. Quijano was killed by operatives of the Noveleta police force at around 9:45 p.m. Monday, in Barangay Tejero, General Trias, Cavite while the lawmen were about to serve an arrest warrant issued by Judge Agapito Lu, with no bail recommended.

In Laguna, a gang leader was also killed while his two cohorts were arrested in Barangay San Vicente, Biñan. Killed on the spot was Edwin del Rosario, 33, leader of the notorious gun-for-hire syndicate while his two members - Jinky Gonzales, 28 and Cedrick Tunay – were arrested during the encounter.

Senior Superintendent Manolito Labador, Laguna provincial director, said his men received a report that there was a gunfight between the two gangs at the vicinity along the railroad in Barangay San Vicente, at around 10:45 p.m. The responding policemen tried to pacify the gangs and introduced themselves as cops, however, instead of surrendering, Rosario’s gang members traded shots with operatives of the Biñan police, triggering a 10-minute shootout.