MANILA, Philippines — Two men reportedly paid to assassinate a local official were killed in an alleged encounter in Biñan, Laguna yesterday.
Police said the fatalities were former convicts and members of a group engaged in contract killing.
The suspects were in a Ford Fiesta when they were pulled over at a checkpoint along the Manila South Road in Barangay San Antonio at midnight.
The checkpoint was set up following information that contract killers were out to assassinate a city official.
The suspects allegedly opened fire at lawmen manning the checkpoint and sped away toward the Mamplasan South Luzon Expressway tollgate.
Pursuing members of the Highway Patrol Group and Biñan police cornered the suspects, who opened fire at them again, triggering a shootout, according to HPG chief Brig. Gen. Alexander Tagum.
Police recovered from the scene of the incident two handguns, bullet shells, fake identification cards and fake vehicle plates.