3 slain in shootings

MANILA, Philippines — Three persons, including two suspects, were gunned down in Bulacan, Quezon and Pangasinan on Tuesday.

Two unidentified motorcycle riders refused to pull over at a checkpoint in Barangay Batia, Bocaue, Bulacan at around 11:45 p.m. and instead fired at police officers, Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat, Bulacan police director, said.

Prior to the incident, a contractor identified as Ricardo Tequin was robbed while waiting for a tricycle in Barangay Duhat at around 4:30 p.m.

The suspects allegedly took Tequin’s bag containing P10,000 in cash, a cell phone and other personal belongings.

Police said a caliber .38 revolver, three sachets of shabu, a motorcycle, a wristwatch and a black sling bag containing a wallet and Tequin’s IDs were recovered from the fatality. The other suspect escaped.

In Quezon, Renelo Tatel, alias Abu, allegedly shot it out with police operatives serving a warrant for murder at his hideout in Barangay Ibabang Iya, Lucena at about 5 p.m.

Superintendent Reynaldo Maclang, Lucena police chief, said Tatel was a member of a drug ring and involved in contract killings and robberies in Quezon.

In Pangasinan, Mark Suarez, 26, was plying his tricycle in Sitio Tebron, Barangay Mancup, Calasiao when he was shot. 

Meanwhile, in La Union, the body of Aprille Pejo, 17,  was found in Barangay Abut, San Fernando also on Tuesday. His face and hands were wrapped in packing tape. 

Senior Inspector Antonio Marzan, city police chief investigator, said the victim could have been strangled to death, citing a black plastic bag wrapped around his neck. – Emmanuel Tupas, Ric Sapnu, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Eva Visperas, Ed Amoroso, Jun Elias