Pampanga cops’ slay suspect killed in ‘shootout’

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga, Philippines — One of the suspects in the killing of two anti-narcotics agents of the Mabalacat police in Pampanga was killed in an alleged shootout at dawn yesterday.

Three other suspects including a woman were arrested several hours after the killing of Senior M/Sgt. Sofronio Capitle Jr. and S/Sgt. Dominador Gacusan Jr., which occurred in Barangay Dau on Saturday morning.

Reports reaching Brig. Gen. Cesar Pasiwen, Cental Luzon police director, identified the slain suspect as Kiel Patrick Chua, alias Kelkel.

Those arrested were Jun Jun Baluyut, Aries Bagsic and Leslie Placiente.

Probers said that Chua, who was on a motorcycle with no license plate, opened fire at the officers manning a checkpoint of the Mabalacat police, triggering a firefight that resulted in his death.

Police said they recovered a .45-caliber pistol from the suspect as well as his motorcycle.

Probers said they also recovered from Baluyut another motorcycle believed used in the killing of Capitle and Gacusan.

Baluyut‘s motorcycle bore bloodstains, police said.

Pasiwen said a manhunt was launched for a certain Kenneth Flores and “alias Pusa,” after the service firearm of one of the slain officers was recovered on the roof of his house.

During interrogation, Baluyut identified Chua, Flores and alias Pusa as his companions in the killing of Capitle and Cagusan. – Ric Sapnu