Shootout kills most wanted man, hurts 1

CEBU, Philippines - A most wanted person in the City of Naga, Cebu was killed while his cohort was injured in a shootout with the police early morning yesterday in sitio Abuno, Barangay Tunghaan, Minglanilla.

City police were supposed to serve an arrest warrant for murder and frustrated murder against Jennel Librea, 29, of Barangay South Poblacion, when suspect and his cohort, Van Vincent Mabanag, 28, of Barangay Tuyan, all of said city, tried to elude arrest.

The warrant was issued by Regional Trial Court branch 12 Judge Estela Alma Cinco in Cebu City.

Police killed Librea who succumbed to gunshot wounds in the forehead, chest and leg while Mabanag suffered bullet wounds in the right eyebrow and chest.

Mabanag was referred to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.

SPO2 Ian Quitayin, team leader, said they have been monitoring Librea at his house but still failed to arrest him. It was yesterday when they received information that suspects were heading Cebu City.

"Amo nang giatngan sa Tuyan daan unya among gi-flagged down kay i-serve namo ang warrant," Quitayin told The FREEMAN.

Both Librea and Mabanag were individually on board a motorcycle.

Reportedly, it was Mabanag who first drew a .38 revolver and tried to shoot at the police but the firearm malfunctioned. This prompted the police to retaliate and shot Mabanag, hitting him twice.

Librea speed off towards Minglanilla town which resulted to a chase. Police cornered Librea in Sitio Abuno where a shootout happened.

"Pasalamat mi nga way naigo, amo lang pud gisiguro nga di mi maigo unya wa na namo gipaabot nga mauna mi…amo nang gipusil," Quitayin said in a phone interview.

Police recovered .45 pistol with two magazines with bullets from Librea.

Quitayin said that Librea was identified suspect in the killing of Renante Bacus, 39, and owner of the Bacus Construction Supply in Barangay Tuyan last November.

Librea was identified by witnesses and also matched the description on the close-circuit television CCTV footage.

Quitayin said that Librea and Mabanag were guns-for-hire and were engaged in illegal drugs. Both were also members of the Tau Gamma fraternity.

Mabanag will be facing charges for RA 10591 or Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.  (FREEMAN)