4 killed in Manila, Quezon City shootouts

MANILA, Philippines — Four men were killed in alleged shootouts with police in Manila and Quezon City before dawn yesterday.

Martin Malinao and Robert Tan, said to be gunrunners and drug pushers, were shot dead in a sting set up by the Manila Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in front of the Technological University of the Philippines along Ayala Bridge in Ermita, Manila.

Police Officer 3 Glicerio Encela, who posed as a buyer, handed the money to the suspects at around 3:45 a.m. 

Tan poked a gun at him and robbed the lawman before he and Malinao fled toward Jones Bridge, where they were flagged down by police officers manning a checkpoint in front of the Bonifacio Shrine.

The suspects shot at the police officers, triggering a running gun battle.

Two sachets of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, a .38 caliber revolver, a .357 caliber pistol and a .45 caliber pistol were recovered from the suspects.

Meanwhile, two unidentified armed men were killed in a reported encounter with police at a vacant lot along Payatas Road in Barangay Payatas B, Quezon City at around 1:30 a.m.

Police officers had responded to complaints about loud hammering in the area, suspected to have been caused by a motorcycle being dismantled.

Two motorcycles, two .38 caliber revolvers and a coin purse containing eight sachet of shabu were recovered from the scene. – Romina Cabrera