Laguna cops kill suspect in Calamba massacre

MANILA, Philippines - A suspect in the Calamba massacre was shot dead Tuesday afternoon during an alleged shootout with members of the police, a radio dzBB report said. This was revealed by Philippine National Police Director General Avelino Razon who identified the suspect as Bernabe Fiesta. He was killed in an alleged shootout around 4 p.m. in Barangay Hornalan, Calamba. Defiesta was one of two suspects in the killing of eight people on Monday in Calamba, Laguna. "Siya din ay namatay dahil ito ay lumaban sa mga pulis noong siya ay nadiscover na nagtatago sa old house ni SPO4 (Florencio) Peria," Razon told radio dzBB. Fiesta was a caretaker at the vegetable farm of retired policeman Peria, also in Calamba City. Razon said police recovered from the scene was the M-16 rifle that Fiesta allegedly used in the killing his victims and in fighting with the members of the arresting team. "Yung the same M-16 rifle na pag-aari ni Peria ay narecover sa kanya (Fiesta). Ito yung pinaputok niya (sa mga pulis)," he said. Razon said members of the Police Regional Office 4-A tried arresting Fiesta but instead of surrendering, the suspect chose to shoot it out with the police. Police have filed multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder charges against Defiesta and retired Philippine Constabulary Sgt. Florencio Peria. Police had earlier said that Fiesta went on a killing spree in the remote village of Hornalan in Calamba City between late Sunday and early Monday. Without even barging in the victims’ homes, the gunman aimlessly rained shots at four separate residences, the report said. Peria had earlier denied involvement in the shooting incident but admitted to owning the three magazines recovered from the crime scene. He said he used to give out such gun items to friends who would usually ask from him. Eight people, including children, were killed after the shooting while six others were seriously hurt and are undergoing treatment. The fatalities were initially identified as Dennis Balisong, 29; his daughters Gladys, 7, and Gladlyn, 8; Gerry Pili, 48; his wife Gloria, 39; and their children Mary Jane, 12, Sarah, 9, and Julian, 4. Rushed to the San Jose Hospital were Dennis' wife Marina Balisong, 31; son Dennis Mark Balisong, 5; Aurelio Abanilla, 52; Vicente Redondo, 42; Cherry Mae Pili, 17; and Erica Pili, 8.- GMANews.TV