3 cops linked to extortion gang killed in Laguna

At least three policemen allegedly engaged in robbery-extortion activities were shot dead in a sting operation staged by their own colleagues in Laguna province Friday afternoon. Supt. James Brillantes, head of the Laguna police Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG), said the group tried to extort money from a local trader in Cabuyao, Laguna. Interviewed by dzBB radio late Friday, Brillantes identified the fatalities as PO2 Michael Aguado of the Capinpin, Laguna police; PO1 Sigmund Allan Hael of Quezon province police; and PO1 Roland Patag of Camp Vicente Lim base police. Recovered from the suspects were cal-.45 pistol, a machine pistol, two 9 mm pistols and a motorcycle. At least one of the suspects' companions remained at large. Brillantes did not identify him while manhunt operations are ongoing. "Maraming complainant na ito, na-entrap lang natin itong grupo na ito (There have been many complaints against this gang. It just happened we caught this group in the act)," he said. Aguado and Hael died on the spot while Patag died while undergoing treatment at a nearby hospital. Brillantes said the entrapment took place at a fast-food joint in Cabuyao, Laguna at 3:15 p.m., where the suspects were to collect P150,000 from a businessman. He said the extortion gang supposedly identified themselves as members of the RSOG when extorting from a 41-year-old trader whom they threatened to charge as a drug pusher. The businessman sought Brillantes' assistance, and a sting operation was planned. "When they were receiving the money and sensed real police were conducting a sting operation, they tried to escape by shooting it out," Brillantes said. -GMANews.TV