Suspect in Briton's slay killed in shootout

CABANATUAN CITY, Philippines  – The prime suspect in last year’s killing of a British national was gunned down in a shootout with policemen here Thursday night.

Superintendent Eli Depra, police station commander, identified the slain suspect as Hearns Valen Hizon, alias Palos, 24, a resident of Barangay Bantug here.

The shootout took place at around 11:20 p.m. Thursday in Barangay San Juan Accfa when Hizon, together with an unidentified companion, encountered a six-man police team led by SPO3 Rene Catipon who got word on Hizon’s presence in the place.

Instead of surrendering, Hizon opened fire, triggering the shootout that led to his death from a single bullet wound in the head from a .45-caliber pistol. His companion was able to escape.

Depra said Hizon was the suspect in the high-profile killing of British national Graham Paul Bayley, 58, who was robbed then gunned down before dawn of Dec. 31 last year.

Hizon was also tagged in the killing of a certain Marvin Mejia and the wounding of one Zaldy Flores in Barangay Sangitan West this city on Sept. 27, 2010.

Hizon also had three arrest warrants for car theft and cases of robbery with homicide.