4 hurt in police operation

CEBU, Philippines – Four men, including two policemen and a civilian agent, were injured in a follow-up operation in Barangay Inayawan, Cebu City, turned bloody after a man suspected behind a series of shooting incidents reportedly decided to shoot it out with policemen.

A 17-year-old who goes by the alias “Atong” was hospitalized in critical condition as of last night after he was wounded during the shootout with the police. Senior Police Officer 2 Julieto Bequilla, Police Officer 2 Phillip James Tanza and agent Crisanto Arante were also wounded during the encounter but are currently in stable condition.

The four are now in a private hospital in Cebu City.

City Intelligence Branch chief, Superintendent Romeo Santander said that they conducted a follow-up operation at White Road, Barangay Inayawan, yesterday afternoon against persons suspected behind a series of shootings in the same barangay for the past two months.

Santander said policemen saw the suspect riding a motorcycle and tried to approach him but he suddenly pulled out a gun and started shooting, prompting them to fire back.

Santander said that some bystanders in the area also started to run into the interior portion of the barangay area when the police arrived and also began shooting against the policemen.

“Wa mi kahibawo nga mga kauban pud diay to sila ni Atong. Namusil pud sila,” he said.

Atong was eventually shot in the abdomen and the leg by one of the policemen.

Santander said that they received information from witnesses that Atong was one of those responsible for the recent shooting incidents in the area. He also said that they could not yet establish his real identity since the suspect is still in critical condition.

The police recovered a caliber .38 cal. revolver from Atong and several empty shells at the crime scene. Santander said that they are still conducting a follow-up operation against the others who shot at the policemen.

Based on the monitoring of the city’s Command Control Center, Inayawan posted the most number of shooting incidents among all 80 barangays of Cebu City.

It recorded 20 unsolved shooting incidents from January 10, 2014 to March 1, 2015 where 16 people were killed.

The Homicide Section of the Cebu City Police Office, on the other hand, reported that there were actually 34 shooting incidents in Inayawan. — (FREEMAN)