2 COPS, LAWYER DIE IN TAGAYTAY GUNFIGHT

TWO police officers and a lawyer on Sunday afternoon died in a shootout in Tagaytay City, Cavite.

A report to Police Regional Office 4A Director Brig. Gen. Paul Kenneth Lucas identified the fatalities as Capt. Adrian Binalay of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group – National Capital Region (CIDG-NCR), Capt. Tomas Batarao Jr., and attorney Dennis Santos.

The encounter occurred at Prime Peak Subdivision in Bgy. Maitim 2^nd Central in Tagaytay City at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Prior to the gunfight, the police officers, along with civilian Babygen Victa Magistrado of Bgy. Commonwealth, Quezon City, went to Prime Peak Subdivision to inquire about a parcel of land they are planning to buy.

They were about to enter the subdivision when they were prevented by the duty security guard, Ryan Santillan.

The victims allegedly insisted and continued to enter the place when the lawyer-suspect suddenly alighted from his car and shot the two police officers repeatedly.

Despite wounded, Binalay and Batarao were able to return fire, hitting Santos.

Binalay died on the spot while Batarao and Santos  were declared dead on arrival at the hospital.

Two other companions of the lawyer-suspect identified as  Elver Mabuti and Benedicto Hebron were arrested by responding lawmen.

The Calabarzon top cop immediately ordered an in-depth investigation into the incident.