9 suspects slain in shootouts with cops

MANILA, Philippines — Nine persons were killed in police operations in Batangas, Bulacan and Pampanga in the past two days.

Police said Roberto Apego, 53; Alexander Canonoy, 35, and Rafael Montes, 29, refused to pull over at a checkpoint along the Ermita-Calzada highway in Balayan, Batangas and fired at pursuing law enforcers at around 2:45 a.m. yesterday.

The fatalities were tagged in the killing of Senior Police Officer 1 Roderick Botavara also in Balayan last Nov. 11.

Senior Superintendent Chito Bersaluna, Bulacan police director, said Norberto Ligon, Ariel Bunag and RJ de Leon shot it out with police officers in drug busts in Barangay Lawa, Meycauayan; Calantipay, Baliwag, and Cutcot, Pulilan, respectively, on Monday.

Bersaluna said Rico and Noel, both surnamed Reyes, shot police officers serving warrants for illegal possession of firearms in Barangay Sto. Cristo, Pulilan.

Andrei Amurao was also killed in an alleged shootout with police officers in a drug sting in Mabalacat, Pampanga.

Meanwhile, Rowena Danay, 23, sales representative of small town lottery operations in South Cotabato, was shot dead by motorcycle-riding assailants after parking her car in front of her boarding house along Lopez Jaena street in Koronadal City.

Money lender Rolando Enriquez was driving his motorcycle when he was gunned down in Barangay Jose Patag, Sta. Maria, Bulacan also on Monday. – Ed Amoroso, Emmanuel Tupas, Ramil Bajo, Raymund Catindig