1 killed, 3 wounded in Batangas ‘shootout’

BATANGAS CITY, Philippines — A suspected illegal gun dealer was killed while three police officers were wounded in an alleged shootout that broke out in this city on Monday night.

Maj. Edgar Fabregas and S/Sgts. Arvin Ilagan and Karl Ernest Fabonan of the Batangas City police were rushed to the Saint Camillus de Lillis Hospital for treatment of gunshot wounds.

The fatality, identified as Ronald de Guzman, was killed in a pursuit operation.

Investigation showed the officers met up with a suspected gun dealer identified only as Bonsai in Barangay Bolbok to supposedly buy firearms.

However, the suspect and his companions sensed that they were dealing with undercover police officers, prompting them to draw their guns, triggering a shootout that left the officers wounded.

The suspects fled after the shooting, prompting a chase and another shootout that resulted in the death of De Guzman. A manhunt was launched for De Guzman’s cohorts.