MANILA, Philippines — An anti-firecracker campaign in Quezon City went awry shortly before noon Thursday when a group of armed men engaged policemen in a gunbattle, resulting in the death of one policeman and the wounding of another.

But Chief Superintendent George Regis, director of the QC Police District, said the subject of the operation might have been tipped off by a rogue cop, prompting them to hold him under their custody for questioning.

Regis did not name him.

He identified the lone fatality as Police Officer 2 Bernard Quintero, assigned to the Lagro Police Station. His buddy, PO2 Jessie Adajar, is in serious condition in a nearby hospital, also for bullet wounds.

“They were out to check on the report of the sale of illegal firecrackers in the area when they were fired upon. This triggered the firefight,” said Regis.

The presence of a warehouse of illegal firecrackers in the area, Regis said, was tipped by a homeowner in the subdivision.

The area is located on Burbank Street, Fairmont Subdivision,n North Fairview, Quezon City.

Additional policemen were deployed in the area to back up the raiding team, but the group of armed men responsible escaped.

Local police said the perpetrators, which Metro Manila police spokesman Supt. Danilo Pecano described as native of Mindanao, are armed with high-powered firearms.

Regis said follow-up operations are now being conducted to get the perpetrators as he vowed a more aggressive campaign against vendors of illegal firecrackers in Quezon City.