Philippine police probe slain 'corrupt' officers

MANILA (AFP) - Three of 13 alleged gang members killed in a shoot-out with Philippine police were policemen, authorities said on Tuesday, as they began a probe into whether the violence was linked to illegal gambling.

The official police report following the incident in Atimonan town, south of Manila, said security forces tried to block armed members of a criminal gang at a road block, setting off a battle.

However, national police chief spokesman Generoso Cerbo said on Tuesday that among those shot dead on Sunday was Senior Superintendent Alfredo Consemino, while two others killed were his aides.

Supt Consemino was allegedly a partner of Victorino "Siman" Atienza, who operated a highly lucrative illegal numbers game called "jueteng", press reports said.