Murder case filed vs. Macua’s gunman

CEBU, Philippines — The authorities have formally filed the case against the remaining suspects while they are still on the hunt of the suspects behind the murder of a cop assigned at the PNP Drug Enforcement Group.

A murder complaint was lodged against Franco Obeso, who was identified to be the alleged gunman of Police Senior Staff Sergeant Maximo Macua Jr., who was killed during anti-illegal drug operation.

An illegal possession of firearms complaint was also filed against Richie Requinto who was nabbed in their follow-up operation.

The said follow-up operation was done on the same night where two other suspects were neutralized upon resisting the arrest of the police personnel and after firing first against the operatives.

Police Colonel Engelbert Soriano, Cebu City Police Office Director, said they have also filed a case against Jeramea Zafra as accomplice to the crime when she was arrested in the same hospital where Obeso was treated and eventually arrested.

Soriano said that the Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 has personally filed the said cases and they are still waiting for the resolution that will be released by the court.

Moreover, Soriano said that their manhunt operation against the remaining suspect-at-large is still ongoing, as they have identified the suspect as the leader of the group.

“Isa nalang yung hinahanap namin, yung pinaka team leader nila,” Soriano said.

He added that they have already traced the identity of the said suspect but didn’t further elaborate, in consideration to the ongoing manhunt operation.

Macua had died in an anti-drug operation that resulted into an armed encounter that also resulted to the death of two drug suspects and the arrest of three others last February 12 at San Roque Tabada, Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City.

The operation happened simultaneously during the assumption speech of the then newly installed PRO-7 chief Brigadier General Albert Ignatius Ferro. (FREEMAN)