4 dead in Quezon City shootouts

MANILA, Philippines — Three suspected criminals and a police informant were killed in separate shootouts in Quezon City yesterday.

Chief Superintendent Joselito Esquivel Jr., director of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), said an alleged drug dealer and a civilian informant died during an encounter in Barangay Culiat at around 1:45 a.m.

Esquivel said the asset, identified only as Tom, was shot by the suspect, identified only as Gelo, who sensed he was working with policemen.

Lawmen who were near the scene engaged the suspected pusher in a shootout. He died at the scene.

Police recovered a 9mm pistol loaded with six bullets and four sachets of shabu from the slain suspect.

Meanwhile, two suspected robbers were killed in a reported encounter with police in Barangay Project 6 at around 12:25 a.m.

One of the suspects was Christopher Blanca, 41, based on the identification card found in his possession while his unidentified companion was described to be in his late 30s, about 5’3” tall and fair-skinned.

They were killed during a running gun battle with police after they allegedly robbed two persons along Kalayaan Avenue near Elliptical Road at around 12:10 a.m.

“They were ordered to surrender. However, they pulled out their handguns and fired shots toward the policemen,” said Esquivel.

A .38 caliber revolver, a 9mm pistol, a motorcycle, four sachets of shabu and two backpacks containing the slain suspects’ belongings were recovered from the scene.

Thirteen persons were arrested for drug-related offenses in Quezon City while 14 were arrested in eastern Metro Manila over the past two days.