Police asset killed in Brgy. Ermita

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Intelligence Chief Romeo Santander expressed concern for the safety of their assets after one was killed shortly before noon yesterday at Barangay Ermita, Cebu City.

Santander disclosed that the recent victim was a certain “Keken” who was on his way to the Carbon Public Market when he was shot pointblank by Ramsy Jacaban, 22, of Barangay Guadalupe.

 “Mi-counter na ang among mga (criminal) subjects,” he said, adding that Keken is the fifth police asset killed since 2010.

He is confident, though, that the cases are not a threat to their operations. It’s a reason for them to intensify all the more their campaign against all forms of criminal activities, he added.

Carbon Police Station Chief Renero Agustine told The FREEMAN that the victim was on board a trisikad when Jacaban suddenly approached and shot the victim on the head.

Unfortunately, the single bullet also hit and wounded another trisikad driver, Jimboy Pundon, 23, of Barangay Pasil. Pundon shouted for help and the two were rushed to the Cebu City Medical Center. Keken later died while Pundon is recovering from a gunshot wound on his right knee.   

Jacaban, carrying his Israeli-made 9mm pistol, tried to flee while residents and pedestrians scampered for cover. But elements of the Carbon and San Nicolas Police Stations and the motorcops apprehended the suspect not far from crime scene.

According to Agustine, Jacaban claimed he shot Keken for punching him last year at the Fuente Osmeña area. Since then, Jacaban has been plotting to kill Keken after one of his eyebrows was scarred after the assault.

Santander said he will order his men to deepen their investigation on the possibility that the victim was killed because of his affiliation with the police.

Aside from a murder case, Cebu City Police Office homicide investigators are still studying whether Jacaban will be charged for illegal possession of firearms for violating the special gun ban for Sinulog 2012. He is currently detained at the CCPO stockade.  (FREEMAN)