TWO police officers and a lawyer were killed in a shooting incident in a subdivision in Tagaytay City, Cavite on Sunday, September 1, 2024.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Public Information Office (PIO) chief Colonel Jean Fajardo said Police Captain Adrian Binalay of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group – National Capital Region (CIDG-NCR) and Police Captain Tomas Ganio Batarao Jr., currently assigned to the Regional Personnel Holding Accounting Section (RPHAS), went to the Prime Peak Subdivision, Barangay Maitim 2nd Central to inquire about a property for sale.
After meeting with the supposed owner of the property, the officers were about to enter the subdivision when they were stopped by the duty guard, Security Guard Ryan Santillan, who advised them not to go inside. The officers ignored the guard’s warning.
Shortly after, a lawyer, allegedly the legal counsel of the subdivision, arrived and opened fire on the officers from inside his vehicle, sparking an exchange of gunfire.
Both the officers and the lawyer sustained multiple gunshot wounds during the encounter. Binalay was pronounced dead at the scene, while Batarao and the suspect were rushed to the nearest hospital but later declared dead.
Fajardo said two individuals, both security guards, were arrested in connection with the incident while another remained at large.
“These two in custody and one at large have given statements indicating that they were also involved in firing shots during the incident,” Fajardo said.
“One of the motives we are considering is the land in question, which has a dispute between the party represented by the lawyer and the person claiming to be the owner who has shown a title,” she added.
The incident is currently under investigation.
The authorities are considering a land dispute as a potential motive for the shooting incident. The lawyer involved in the shooting was allegedly representing one party in a dispute over the ownership of the property the officers were inquiring about. The person claiming ownership had presented a title, suggesting a legal battle over the land.
