Retired lawman, police sergeant shot dead

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna — A retired policeman and a police sergeant were killed in separate shootings in Batangas last week, authorities said.

Police identified the victims as retired SPO4 Tomas Lirio and SPO1 Dionisio Calara Jr., 43, who is assigned to the 401st Mobile Group of the Batangas police.

Chief Superintendent Jesus Versoza, police director of Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), has ordered Senior Superintendent Francisco Don Montenegro, Batangas police director, to look deeper into the gunslayings.

Versoza said Lirio, formerly assigned to the intelligence division of the Sto. Tomas municipal police, was driving his two children to the San Pedro National High School last Wednesday morning when he was gunned down by one of two men aboard a motorcycle.

Calara, meanwhile, was attacked by three motorcycle-riding men in front of his house in Barangay 6, Nasugbu town at about 6:30 a.m. last Wednesday.

Versoza said Calara had just arrived home from his duty when he was killed.

He said Calara was able to shoot back, wounding one of his assailants.

Scene-of-the-crime operatives found 21 caliber .45 empty shells and nine slugs in front of Calara’s house. — Ed Amoroso, Arnell Ozaeta