AWOL cop who ‘robbed’ guard killed

CEBU, Philippines — A police corporal was killed, while a security guard was injured in a shooting incident yesterday afternoon in Sta. Teresita Village, Barangay Tisa, Cebu City

The cop was identified as Jobie Libradilla Antipolo, who went on absence without leave (AWOL) last year, based on several identification cards recovered from him.

Antipolo held the rank of police corporal or police officer 2. He was assigned before in Sogod Police Station.

Police Major Henrix Cancoleta, Labangon Police Station chief, said Edwin Velos, security officer at Sarsalejo Security Agency, was bringing around half a million in cash during the incident.

Quoting Velos’ security agency, Cancoleta said the cash, which was placed inside Velos’ motorcycle’s u-box, was for the salary of all the security guards.

Velos was on his way to Deca Homes in Barangay Tisa to give the salary of the security guards under their agency.

Police said Antipolo and another unidentified suspect allegedly robbed and shot Velos.

Velos, who suffered a gunshot wound, lost control of his motorcycle and fell to the ground.

As the suspects were about to take the guard’s motorcycle, a still unidentified man suddenly arrived and shot Antipolo and his cohort, who is still at large.

Antipolo succumbed to a gunshot wound, resulting in his instantaneous death. His cohort also suffered a gunshot wound, but still managed to escape on foot.

Velos, on the other hand, was rushed to the hospital.

Police are yet to identify the person who shot the two suspects and the motive behind the shooting.

Cancoleta said the crime was well planned, considering the preciseness of the assailants’ attack.

“The robbery was well-planned,” he said.

He said they are digging deeper into the incident.

‘Salvage’ victim?

Meanwhile, lying face down and hogtied in a secluded area in Carmen town, northern Cebu, a 30-year-old man was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds in the head.

The victim’s, Jasper Perez, eyes and mouth were covered with a duct tape. His body was dumped along the road of Purok Chicos, Dawis Norte, a mountain barangay, said police.

Perez was identified through his red jersey t-shirt, bearing his surname.  He was a resident of Sitio Cogon, Barangay Guinsay, Danao City.

He was found by a motorcycle-for-hire driver, who reported the sighting to the Carmen police, Monday dawn.

Police recovered eight fired cartridges of a .45 caliber pistol and two empty shells of a .9mm caliber firearm from the crime scene.

“There is a possibility that the victim was actually killed there,” said Police Major Junil Kaadlawon of Carmen Police Station.

Police are looking into Perez's involvement in illegal drugs as possible motive in the crime. (FREEMAN)