The leader of a gun-for-hire group and his driver were killed in a shootout with the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group in Bacolor, Pampanga yesterday.

PNP-HPG director Police Brig. Gen. Alexander Tagum identified the leader of the gun-for-hire group as Harry Mandahay and his driver as Jeffrey Diamada.
Tagum said they were after the group of Mandahay based on the information from the National Capital Region Police Office and the Pampanga police.
A brief car chase ensued when the HPG tracked down Mandahay. The suspects were cornered on River Control Road in Barangay Cabetican at around 2 a.m.
Instead of surrendering, the suspects opened fire at lawmen who retaliated and killed the duo.
“They refused to surrender when they were cornered. They got off the vehicle and started shooting at my men,” said Tagum.
Mandahay was allegedly the leader of a group engaged in gun-for-hire activities that operates in Central Luzon and nearby areas.
Recovered from the suspects were a sedan believed to be carnapped, a .45 caliber pistol, two .38 caliber revolvers, four sachets containing suspected shabu, and cellular phones.