4 dead, 3 arrested in raid

CEBU, Philippines - Four suspected drug pushers and guns-for-hire were killed and three others were arrested during a simultaneous operation conducted by three special units of the police yesterday morning in Barangay Pulpogan, Consolacion.

The fatalities were identified as Vicente Bayon Judaya, Ian Siacol, Jerson Resme and Rene Boy Tarriao, all residents of the said barangay.

They were rushed to the Eversley Child Sanitarium in Barangay Jagobiao, Mandaue City but were declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

They were killed for allegedly resisting arrest.

Arrested were Jerry Bugtai, 33, Danilo Alcachupas, 26, and Elvira Manlise, also residents of Barangay Pulpogan.

Nine persons, four women and five men, were also held for verification as they were near the houses of the subjects of the operation.

The Regional Intelligence Division led by Senior Insp. Mark Gifter Sucalit, Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Group and the Provincial Intelligence Branch led by Supt. Rodolfo Albotra conducted a simultaneous operation at past 4 a.m. yesterday against Judaya, Bugtai and Francisco Ariva, who remains at large as of press time.

They were armed with search warrants for illegal possession of firearms signed by Regional Trial Court Judge Teresita Galanida of Branch 56 in Mandaue City.

Galanida also issued a separate search warrant for possession of illegal drugs against Manlise, Ariva’s live-in partner.

Seized during the operation were a .357 revolver, a .380 pistol, a .38 revolver, a 9mm pistol, two .45 pistols, three hand grenades, assorted bullets of said firearms, assorted empty shells, several packs of white crystalline powder believed to be shabu in different sizes estimated to worth P300,000, drug paraphernalia and P7,560 cash.

The arrested persons are now detained at the Consolacion stockade.

The police conducted a month-long surveillance against the suspects who are allegedly involved in shooting incidents and illegal drug trade in the northern area of Metro Cebu.

Four teams separately served the warrant at the houses of their subjects, which are just a few meters away from each other.

The team led by SPO1 Reynaldo Solante of the PIB, served the warrant against Ariva.

When they noticed the presence of the operatives, Ariva and his men allegedly fired shots that resulted in a shootout.

In the middle of the exchange of gun fire, Ariva got a chance to escape through a door at the second floor of the house.

Siacol, Resme and Tarriao were wounded.  They were rushed to the hospital but did not make it alive.

On the other hand, Sucalit’s team  shot Judaya dead after he allegedly pulled a gun when the operatives served the warrant.

“Pagtok-tok namo sa balay unya nag-identify mi as police nidistansiya siya (Judaya) ug nibunot sa iyang .380 pistol nga loaded,” Sucalit said.

Judaya has not fired his gun.

The team of SPO1 Francis Allen Villamor arrested Alcachupas and Bugtai at the house of the latter.

Bugtai tried to escape but he was arrested an hour later at the house of his sister after residents informed the police where he was hiding.

Insp. Rogelio Amoroso arrested Manlise at her residence.   She did not resist arrest.

Cebu City Police Office Director Patrocinio Comendador said there are two big groups engaged in illegal drug trade operating in the northern part of Metro Cebu.

The members are also guns-for-hire and the two groups are fighting over territory.

Last week, the police raided the house of Bebot Pepito in Barangay Tayud, Lilo-an but he eluded arrest.

However, his suspected accomplice, Richard Taco, who was in Pepito’s house was shot dead after he allegedly resisted arrest.

Several packs of shabu worth P500,000, assorted firearms, weighing scale, drug paraphernalia, assorted ammunition, magazines, a bullet vest and a ledger notebook with P1.7 million collectibles and deposit slips were seized during the operation.

Comendador said the results of their operations would mean reduction in the supply of shabu and shooting incidents in the northern part of Cebu. 

Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 director Marcelo Garbo Jr. warned those in the same business that the police are serious to go after them. — /MBG (FREEMAN)