3 gun-for-hire suspects killed in shootout with cops in Batangas

November 22, 2018

Three gun-for-hire suspects were killed during a shootout with police at a checkpoint at Barangay Bilog in Tayasan, Batangas, Wednesday morning. 

  According to the Batangas Provincial Police Office, a checkpoint was set up by the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit and Taysan Municipal Police Station to capture suspected gun for hire members Solomon Panal, Virgilio Hernandez, and Efren Cruzada. 

The suspects onboard a gray Toyota Hi-Ace with plate number RDJ 679 tried to get away and shot the policemen manning the checkpoint. 

  Police pursued and fired back at the suspects even as the cops' vehicle incurred bullet holes after the armed confrontation. 

  The slain suspects were reportedly involved in series of gun for hire and robbery incidents in Batangas, Pampanga, Bulacan, and Metro Manila. 

  Prior to the incident, the group was allegedly hired to assassinate an unidentified businessman from Tayasan.

  Police said the neutralization of the suspects will lessen activities involving hitmen in the province. DMS