Mandaue cop shot dead

A Mandaue City policeman was shot dead by a suspected drug pusher in sitio Soong Dos, barangay Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City, last Sunday.

PO3 Jose Bob Zambo Desamparado, 34, of Ouano Street, barangay Opao, Mandaue City, did not reach the hospital alive after being shot in the left side of the chest.

Homicide investigator SPO2 Rolito Jumao-as said the victim together with PO2s Jackson Rivera of Station 5, and Darius Conejos of Station 4, and a civilian asset were in sitio Soong to conduct surveillance against drug pushers.

The victim confronted a group of three suspected drug pushers when one of them shot him. The two other police officers who were some distance away rushed to find him lying on the ground bleeding.

Lapu-Lapu City Special Weapons and Tactics personnel responded the alarm and arrested the suspect later identified as Carl Racid Villacin, 28. Police found a nickel-plated .38 cal. revolver with four live bullets and one spent shell on him when he was searched. They also found five small plastic packs of suspected shabu and drug paraphernalia.

Mandaue City police director Eduardo Catabas admitted yesterday that the three policemen did not have any clearance from their station to conduct the operation.

Rivera and Conejos are currently detained at Lapu-Lapu City Police Office Detention Cell.

Lapu-Lapu City police chief Louie Oppus has filed illegal possession of firearms against the two policemen as Catabas will file administrative charges against his policemen for neglect of duty.