8 slain in shootings

Three persons who were recently released from a jail in Mandaue, Cebu were killed in an alleged shotout with anti-drug operatives at the Cebu International Convention Center yesterday.

Ruben Ompad, 25, and his brothers Jerome, 28, and Vincent, 26, drew their guns when they sensed they had sold shabu to undercover agents at about 1:05 a.m., Chief Inspector Michelangelo Beltran, Mandaue police Station 3 commander, said.

Five sachets of shabu, marked money and guns were allegedly recovered from the fatalities.

However, Conchita Ompad, the grandmother of the fatalities, claimed her grandsons were sleeping at their house when police entered and opened fire.

Meanwhile, five persons were killed in separate gun attacks in Quezon, Rizal and Pangasinan.

Ronald Crisologo and Michael Arambulo were in Barangays San Luis and San Isidro, respectively, in Antipolo, when they were shot by unidentified men.

An alias Nene died while her companion Benedicto Talpe was wounded when motorcycle-riding men shot them in Barangay San Jose, Rodriquez.

Jimmy Ahon, alias James Pasamba, was shot in the head by a lone gunman in Barangay Masin Norte, Candelaria.

Bryan Bautista, 29, was standing in front of his house in Barangay Tampac, Aguilar, Pangasinan, when men wearing bonnets and masks shot him several times.

Police have yet to determine the motives for the killings.