2 cops, lawyer killed in Tagaytay ‘shootout’

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — Two police officers and a lawyer were killed in an alleged shootout reportedly over a land dispute in Tagaytay, Cavite on Sunday afternoon.

Capt. Adrian Binalay of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-National Capital Region died at the scene of the shooting that occurred inside Prime Peak Subdivision in Barangay Maitim at around 2 p.m.

Binalay’s colleague, Capt. Tomas Batarao Jr. of the Calabarzon police personnel holding and accounting section, and lawyer Denis Santos were declared dead on arrival in a hospital due to gunshot wounds.

Responding police officers arrested Elver Mabuti and Benedicto Hebron at the Tagaytay Medical Center following the incident.

Hebron was said to be a retired sheriff. He and Mabuti were placed under the custody of the Tagaytay City police, probers said.

Reports said Binalay and Batarao went to the area to inquire about a property in the subdivision that was reportedly being offered for sale.

Security guard Ryan Santillan prevented Binalay and Batarao from entering the subdivision.

The officers reportedly ignored Santillan and entered the premises.

At that point, Santos arrived in a car and allegedly shot Binalay and Batarao, triggering a firefight that resulted in their deaths.

Probers are eyeing a land dispute as the motive for the shootout.

Brig. Gen. Paul Kenneth Lucas, Calabarzon police director, formed a team that will conduct a thorough probe of the incident.

A team from the National Police Commission led by Napolcom regional director Owen de Luna went to the crime scene to validate the police report.

Lucas gave assurance that a deeper investigation would be conducted into the incident.