Cop, drug suspect slain in shootout

SAN ISIDRO, Nueva Ecija, Philippines – A police officer and a suspected drug trafficker were killed in a shootout here yesterday morning.

Police Officer 3 Jacinto Gregorio Jr. and Bernardo Magno died from multiple gunshot wounds, said Senior Superintendent Crizaldo Nieves, provincial police director.

Gregorio died at the scene while Magno was declared dead on arrival at a hospital in Gapan City.

Nieves said the shootout occurred at around 6 a.m. when operatives of the provincial police led by police Superintendent Ricardo Villanueva raided Magno’s house in Barangay Calaba for firearms and drugs.

Villanueva’s team reportedly failed to convince Magno to surrender, which resulted in a shootout.

Recovered from the scene were two rifles, a shotgun, a caliber .45 pistol, ammunition, bullet shells and illegal drugs. – Manny Galvez, Ric Sapnu