2 Pangasinan cops killed in shootout

CAMP GEN. FLORENDO, La Union — The police chief of Sta. Maria town in Pangasinan was sacked the other day by his superior after two of his men were killed when they shot it out outside their jurisdiction.

Relieved on orders of Senior Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil, Pangasinan PNP director, was Supt. Alfredo Bascoa, chief of Sta. Maria PNP station in Pangasinan.

According to reports reaching here, those killed were SPO1 Rogelio Julian and SPO2 Narciso Navarro, while wounded was PO3 Alexander Juanitez, all detailed with the Sta. Maria PNP station.

Reports added, the three were aboard a Mitsubishi car going to Libertad, Tayug, when Navarro suddenly went berserk and shot Julian and Juanitez both in the back.

Juanitez who was then driving, lost control of the car which rammed into a tree. Though wounded, Juanitez managed to get the gun of his dead companion and shot Navarro twice.

The reports of Bascao on the incident appeared incomplete so Bataoil sacked him.

The case is still being investigated while Juanitez is still recuperating in an undisclosed hospital in Pangasinan. — Myds Supnad