Vigilantes clash with suspected pushers, 3 slain

CALAMBA, Laguna - Three persons, including a police informer, were killed in a firefight between a group of suspected drug pushers and five men said to be anti-drug crusaders in Barangay San Ramon de Canlubang Wednesday afternoon.

Killed in an initial burts of gunfire at about 3:30 p.m. in Palao Subdivision, Kapayapaan Ville, was police informer Ruther Legazpi, 38, of Barangay Mayapa.

The fatality and his partner Pablito Pagaspas, were reportedly conducting an anti-drug monitoring operation when they were unmasked to be police informers by alleged drug pushers, identified later as Gerardo Delgado, 40, and his nephew Jeffreyson Laureo, 34.

Legazpi and Pagaspas tried to escape but where pursued and fired upon by the suspects.

The victim died on the spot while Pagaspas survived the attack.

At the height of confusion and while Legazpi and Pagaspas were being evacuated by barangay officials, five unidentified armed men who introduced themselves as members of a vigilante group, arrived at the scene and engaged the drug suspects in a gunfight.

Delgado was killed on the spot. Barangay officials recovered from the pocket of his short pants an undetermined amount of suspected shabu inside a plastic sachet.

Laureo, on the other hand, expired at St. Mark's Hospital where he was rushed for treatment. Recovered from him were a shotgun and bullets.

The Calamba police is currently handling the investigation of the incident that has already struck fear among residents in the community.