Swift justice: Road rage killers die in Laguna mishap

Three barangay watchmen from San Pablo City were killed and two others were injured when their patrol car collided with a passenger jeep as the fatalities were trying to escape after shooting dead a town councilor in Sto. Tomas, Batangas last Sunday.

Calabarzon police director Chief Superintendent Perfecto Palad said barangay tanods Arcadio Mendoza and Teodoro Ramos died on the spot while Antonio Mendoza died while being treated at the Pagamutang Panlalawigan ng Laguna in San Pablo City.

Their two companions, Jimmy Corales and Rodante Mendoza, were hospitalized for various injuries.

Palad said the barangay tanods from Barangay Santisimo Rosario were on their way home after attending a fiesta in a barangay in Sto. Tomas town when they had a run-in with town councilor Adolfo Malipo over a minor traffic altercation along the national highway in San Andres, Laguna.

Superintendent Manuel Manalo, Sto. Tomas police chief, said Malipo, who was on board his owner-type jeep, was on a north-bound lane while the tanods’ patrol car was heading south.

Manalo said Malipo had a heated argument with the watchmen that resulted in a shootout.

After the shooting incident, the barangay watchmen escaped on board their patrol car and sped towards San Pablo City, said Palad.

After receiving reports of the shootout, Manalo dispatched a police mobile car to pursue the escaping suspects.

The speeding barangay patrol car then rammed a passenger jeepney, driven by a certain Noli Batolinao Asis, along the national highway at San Andres, Alaminos town.

Malipo, who was brought to a hospital in San Pablo City, later died from a gunshot wound in the stomach that ruptured his liver.

Palad ordered Manalo to conduct paraffin tests on the suspects, including the dead barangay tanods to determine who among them had fired guns.

Police recovered a caliber .45 slug and six other slugs of unknown caliber from the scene.

Police will file murder charges against the two injured suspects Corales and Mendoza, and two barangay councilors who went into hiding after the shooting incident.

The two other suspects were identified as Santisimo Rosario barangay councilors Renato Ulan and Renato Hernandez. With Arnell Ozaeta