Thirteen suspected members of a criminal syndicate were killed Sunday in a shootout with police and the military in the Philippines, dpa quoted officials as saying. The fire fight erupted when the suspects who were aboard two vehicles opened fire at a security checkpoint in Atimonan town in Quezon province, 120 kilometres south-east of Manila. The checkpoint was set up by a joint team of the military and police after receiving a tip, said Senior Superintendent Val De Leon,the provincial police director. A police officer was wounded in the shootout, which left all suspects in the two vehicles dead, De Leon said. Ten firearms, including M14 and M16 rifles, were recovered from the suspects.
