Three men, two police captains and a lawyer, died in a shootout stemming from a dispute over a land sale in Tagaytay City. The two slain police captains were identified as Police Captain Adrian Binalay and Police Capt. Tomas Ganio Batarao, Jr.
The incident occurred on September 1st at the Prime Peak Subdivision in Barangay Maitim.
According to Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo, a group led by lawyer Denis Santos allegedly opened fire on two police captains during a land transaction gone awry. One of the captains involved was reportedly a client interested in purchasing a lot at the Prime Peak Subdivision.
Col. Fajardo revealed during a press briefing at Camp Crame that investigators are exploring potential motives for the shooting. “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,” he stated.
In a related report, the Tagaytay City police chief confirmed that the two police captains had been invited to inspect the property. Upon their arrival at approximately 2 p.m., they were advised against entering the area. However, the seller remained adamant about their ownership of the land, leading to the viewing proceeding despite the warnings.
During the property inspection, a car arrived, and Santos allegedly alighted and started shooting at the two policemen. Although wounded, the two cops managed to return fire. Binalay was killed on the spot, while Batarao and Santos succumbed to their injuries at a nearby hospital.
Col. Fajardo stated that two companions of the lawyer, identified as Elver Mabuti and Benedicto Hebron, were arrested in a follow-up operation. Mabuti and Hebron, a retired sheriff, were reportedly assigned to guard the disputed property.
The PNP is now preparing two counts of murder charges against Mabuti, Hebron, and another individual who managed to escape.
