Cops kill 7 robbers, 7 drug suspects

MANILA, Philippines — Seven suspected robbers who have yet to be identified were killed in alleged shootouts with police officers in Pampanga and Batangas yesterday.

Four of the fatalities allegedly robbed a convenience store in Barangay Colgante, Apalit at around 4:45 a.m.

Lt. Col. Elner Decena, town police chief, said law enforcers chanced upon the suspects on their way to Macabebe town.

Maj. Louie Gonzaga, Bacolor police chief, said two men who reportedly robbed a gasoline station in Barangay Cabetican fired at police officers when collared along the Pasig-Potrero dike access road.

In Batangas, one of four men suspected of robbing  residents of an apartment in Barangay San Rafael, Sto. Tomas was killed when they refused to pull over and allegedly opened fire at police officers manning a checkpoint.

Meanwhile, seven persons were killed in drug stings in  Laguna, Albay and Quezon also yesterday.

 Col. Eleazar Matta, Laguna police director, said Jesus Tenido and an alias Long Hair resisted arrest and fired at anti-narcotics agents in Barangay Sampiruhan, Calamba City.

Matta said Tenido was a former traffic enforcer who was relieved from his job after he tested positive for drug use.

He said Joselito Odpaga Jr. shot it out with anti-narcotics agents in Barangay Real, also in Calamba and a certain Ever Barcenas in Marinig, Cabuyao.

Police said John Ford Keith Valles and an alias Nante drew their guns when they sensed they had sold shabu to undercover agents in Barangay Maroroy, Daraga, Albay and Barangay 4, Lucena, Quezon, respectively.