Cop, 2 others killed in Cavite shooting incidents

MANILA, Philippines - Three people, including a policeman, were killed while another one was injured in two shooting incidents in Silang town, Cavite province, a radio report said Thursday. Officials from the Philippine National Police (PNP) identified the first fatality as victim Atillino Ruiz, 42, a resident of Barangay Batas, Silang town. The two other fatalities were identified as Police Officer (PO)1 Jimmy Tobias and suspect Julian Laureles. The report said that Ruiz was inside his house when Julian, along with accomplices Nicanor Laureles and Jovi Dionisio, allegedly barged in and shot the victim to death using an M-16 Armalite rifle. In an ensuing operation, responding policemen cornered the fleeing suspects in their residences in nearby Barangay Litlit. Suspect Julian and 32-year-old PO1 Tobias, who was assigned to the PNP Special Action Force in Camp Belarmino in Silang town, emerged dead in the shootout that ensued. Two other suspects escaped and are currently the object of a manhunt operation. Meanwhile, an injured policeman, identified as PO1 Abelardo Maala, residing at Barangay Tartaria and assigned at the Silang PNP, had already been brought to the De La Salle Medical Center in nearby Dasmariñas, Cavite. The report also said that land dispute might have been the motive for the killing of Ruiz. Silang is a first class landlocked municipality in eastern Cavite province with a population of 156,137 people in 30,847 households. - Mark Merueñas, GMANews.TV