2 suspects in killing of newsman, cop slain

MANILA, Philippines - Two suspected drug pushers, believed involved in the killing of a tabloid reporter and a policeman in a recent drug raid, were slain in a shootout with policemen in Taytay, Rizal Saturday.

Senior Superintendent Ireneo Dordas said the suspects, identified only as Mogs and Mon, were killed a day after Tiburcio “Jojo” Trajano Jr., a reporter of the tabloid Remate, was buried in Marikina City.

The slain suspects yielded a caliber .45 automatic pistol and a caliber .38 revolver, two P100 bills and an undetermined quantity of shabu.

Dordas said the slain suspects belonged to the so-called Fabu Norma gang which is engaged in the illegal drug trade, kidnappings and car thefts in Metro Manila, particularly the cities of Pasig and Taguig.

According to Dordas, elements of the Special Operations Group (SOG) received reports that the group was selling illegal drugs on Road 5 in Sitio Abnai, Lupang Arenda in Barangay Sta. Ana.

Chief Superintendent Perfecto Palad, Calabarzon police director, promptly ordered a drug buy-bust and directed the 418th Provincial Mobile Group to assist the SOG in the operation.

However, the suspects sensed the presence of the lawmen and tried to escape.

Police, however, caught up with them after a brief chase, but instead of surrendering they opened fire, leading to the shootout.

Trajano and an SOG member, PO2 Virgilio de la Cruz, were killed in a drug raid in the same area last week.

The target of the raid, a certain Zoren, eluded arrest. He is now the subject of a regionwide manhunt.

Police arrested six suspects, but only five of them were charged in court after the local Department of Social Welfare and Development intervened as the sixth suspect is a teenage girl.