Two police captains and a lawyer died in a shootout that stemmed from what appears to be a dispute over a parcel of land being sold inside a subdivision in Tagaytay City.
Col. Jean Fajardo, spokesperson of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said it was the group of lawyer Denis Santos who allegedly opened fire at the two police captains, one of them was a client interested in buying a lot at the Prime Peak Subdivision in Barangay Maitim.
“One of the motives that we are looking into is that the parcel of land being sold is subject to a land dispute between a party that the lawyer represents and the one selling it,” said Fajardo in. a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
The two slain police captains were identified as Police Captain Adrian Binalay, assigned to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-National Capital Region; and, Police Capt. Tomas Ganio Batarao, Jr., assigned to the Calamba Police Station.
Citing a report from the Tagaytay City police chief, Fajardo said the two were invited to check on a parcel of land at the Prime Peak Subdivision.
When they arrived in the area at around 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 1, the seller of the land and the two cops were advised not to go inside.
Fajardo said the viewing of the propery proceeded as the seller insisted on land ownership.
While checking the property, a car arrived in the area and Santos immediately alighted and allegedly started shooting the two policemen. Although wounded, the two cops were able to trade shots.
Binalay died on the spot while Batarao and Santos died in a nearby hospital.
Fajardo said the two companions of the lawyer, identified as Elver Mabuti and Benedicto Hebron, were arrested in a follow-up operation.
Both Mabuti and Hebron, a retired sheriff, were reportedly assigned to guard the disputed property.
Fajardo said a case of two counts of murder are now being prepared against Mabuti, Hebron and another person who was able to escape.