Cops say Calamba massacre suspect opted to fight

MANILA, Philippines - Laguna police on Tuesday said that the suspect in the predawn massacre that killed eight persons in Calamba City was shot dead following an encounter with police in Laguna province Tuesday afternoon. Police said that the suspect, Bernabe Fiesta, opted to shoot it out with pursuing police teams but was outnumbered and outgunned when cornered at the house of his uncle in Calamba City. "He chose to fight it out and the consequence was he was killed," Calabarzon regional director Chief Supt. Ricardo Padilla said in an interview on dzRH radio. Padilla said his men were able to monitor the movements of Fiesta, a native of Kidapawan City, when the suspect returned to the house of his uncle, former constabulary Sgt. Florencio Peria, shortly after Monday's predawn massacre. He said "stay-behind" police forces deployed by Laguna police provincial commander Sr. Supt. Felipe Roxas Jr. saw him return to the house and called on him to surrender. "Siya nakipaglaban pa sa ating stay-behind forces at siya ay napatay (When he chose to fight it out, he was outnumbered and killed)," he said. On the other hand, the dzRH report said relatives of the victims were "not satisfied" with the incident, saying Fiesta "deserved worse." Police earlier filed multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder charges against Fiesta and his uncle, Peria. Eight people, including children, were killed in the shooting rampage while six others were seriously hurt and are undergoing treatment. The fatalities were initially identified as Dennis Balisong, 29; his daughters Gladys, 7, and Gladlyn, 8; Gerry Pili, 48; his wife Gloria, 39; and their children Mary Jane, 12, Sarah, 9, and Julian, 4. Rushed to the San Jose Hospital were Dennis' wife Marina Balisong, 31; son Dennis Mark Balisong, 5; Aurelio Abanilla, 52; Vicente Redondo, 42; Cherry Mae Pili, 17; and Erica Pili, 8.- GMANews.TV