Minor rescued, 2 others fall after shootout with cops

CEBU, Philippines — A minor was rescued, while two men were arrested after engaging in a shootout with police officers in Barangay Taloot, Argao town, southern Cebu, on Wednesday afternoon, November 12.

The Argao Municipal Police Station identified the arrested men as Clyd Alipunga, 18, a resident of Barangay Bagacay, Sibonga; and John Michael Rodriguez, 22, from Barangay Taloot, Argao.

Meanwhile, the rescued minor was identified as a 17-year-old resident of Barangay Taloot, Argao.

In their initial investigation, the police said they received a phone call from Taloot Barangay Captain Virgilio Rizon, who reported that three young men had illegally discharged firearms of then-unidentified calibers past 4 p.m. on the said date.

Responding to the alarm, the police caught the suspects in the act of firing their weapons. In self-defense, the police returned fire, resulting in a shootout.

During the encounter, one of the suspects, Alipunga, sustained gunshot wounds. The other two suspects were subsequently arrested.

The wounded suspect was brought to the hospital for immediate medical attention.

As the police and the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) team conducted an investigation after the incident, they seized several pieces of evidence, including at least 95 sachets of suspected shabu weighing about 43 grams, with an estimated value of P373,920.

Authorities also recovered a revolver without a serial number, a pistol with its magazine, a black widow revolver, two firearm control cards, and several live rounds of ammunition.

The gathered pieces of evidence were brought to the crime laboratory for forensic examination.

Meanwhile, Tapayan, the minor involved in the incident, was turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Argao.

As of this writing, Alipunga remains under hospital arrest as he continues to recover from his gunshot wounds.

Rodriguez, on the other hand, has been placed in the custody of the Argao police.

Police authorities are now preparing the documents for the charges to be filed against Alipunga and Rodriguez.

The two will face charges under Republic Act 10591 for the illegal possession of firearms and Section 11 of Republic Act 9165 for the illegal possession of dangerous drugs. — /IHM (FREEMAN)