1 dead, 1 injured in Parañaque encounter

A Vietnamese national was killed while a Chinese national was injured in an encounter with National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents in Parañaque City Thursday night.

According to John Consulta's report on 24 Oras, the two foreigners were said to be part of a Chinese gun-running syndicate.

A footage from the NBI showed the law enforcers exchanged gunfire with members of the alleged syndicate who were trying to escape.

The vehicle of the suspects was eventually found in the parking area of a hotel in Parañaque.

"They were able to escape when the gunfight ensued," NBI deputy director and spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin said.

Prior to the incident, NBI Interpol conducted two separate operations against the alleged members of the syndicate.

Two Chinese nationals were caught in a buy-bust operation conducted in a restaurant in Pasay.

A certain Mark Rodel Ocampo, alleged leader of the syndicate, was nabbed in another operation.

"Ito 'yung lumalabas na mastermind. Ito 'yung naghahanap ng sources ng baril. Ito rin 'yung allegedly involved sa pagtumba nung Chinese nationals na hindi tumutupad sa ransom payments," Lavin said.

(He is said to be the mastermind of group. He is the one who find sources of guns. He was also allegedly involved in the killing of Chinese nationals who [don't] pay the ransom money.)

The group allegedly sourced their guns from Filipino criminal groups.

A total of four weapons were recovered in the operations, including a gun owned by an NBI agent which was stolen in a "basag-kotse" incident last month.

A forensic examination is being conducted on the vehicle left by the suspects while a follow-up operation is ongoing to track the other one used by syndicate members to escape.

"Ang kautusan ng pamunuan ng NBI, ang aming Director Eric Distor, to intensify the campaign against all forms of criminality," Lavin said.

Solaire Resort has already issued a statement on the incident.

"We would like to clarify that the reported incident occurred on March 24 at approximately 11:30 p.m. was outside the vicinity of Solaire and is not in any way associated with the Solaire property," the statement read.

"This is an isolated case handled by the local authorities," it added.—Hana Bordey/AOL, GMA News