Leyte escapee resists arrest, shot by cops

CEBU, Philippines - An inmate who bolted from a jail in Leyte was shot by policemen who tried to arrest him in Barangay Bolinawan, Carcar City, Cebu Saturday afternoon.

Climaco Alenton, who is charged for theft and illegal drugs, allegedly tried to fire at the police.

SPO3 Joramie Tanud-tanud said he and four other Carcar City Police Station officers went to Sitio Cambuntan, Bolinawan around 4 p.m. after receiving a tip on the presence of the suspect, who escaped from the Leyte Regional Prison last August 16.

Tanud-tanud said they introduced themselves as law enforcers to Alenton, who has been hiding in Carcar for two weeks already.

Alenton reportedly pulled out a caliber. 38 revolver and immediately fired at the policemen. The gun jammed, giving SPO1 Irving Avila the chance to shoot him in the right leg and right thigh.

The policemen also seized from Alenton his unlicensed firearm.

Police rushed the suspect to the Carcar Provincial Hospital before transferring him to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City for further treatment.

Tanud-tanud said Leyte police have coordinated with them after Alenton escaped, knowing that he came from Carcar.

Police said Alenton is a notorious thief who had been repeatedly arrested in Carcar before.

A case for illegal possession of firearms will be filed against the suspect, who will be turned over to authorities in Leyte. — (FREEMAN)