Police official wounded; robbery suspect killed

A Manila police official is in critical condition, while a robbery suspect was killed in shooting incidents that resulted from successive police operations against a robbery gang last Friday in Quezon City and Manila.

Inspector Oliver Lusero, 33, detailed at the Manila Police District’s District Police Intelligence Unit (MPD-DPIU), was shot by one of the arrested members of a robbery gang as they were being brought to MPD headquarters.

The suspect, a certain Roger Balagat was shot dead by a DPIU operative in a follow-up operation following the escape of two suspects from police custody.

In a report to MPD director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong, DPIU commander Chief Inspector Joselito Sta. Ana said an operation was hatched against suspected members of a robbery gang operating along Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard in Sta. Mesa, Manila.

The operation led to the arrest of robbery suspects Balagat, Jesus Cabaluna and a female cohort, identified as Ilen Manipol, at around 4:30 p.m.

While the three were inside a private vehicle driven by PO2 Jolly Aliangan to pick up a police informant in Quezon City, Balagat pulled out a gun and shot Lusero, who was seated with the suspects. The police official was hit in the chest.

Balagat and Manipol managed to escape while the other suspect was held at bay by Aliangan.

The police official was rushed to the UERM Hospital.

After the incident, Sta. Teresa and his men swooped down on the suspects’ lair in Marikina City, where the escaped suspects were re-arrested. The female suspect rode in the car of Sta. Teresa, while Bumagat was placed in another police vehicle.

On the way to MPD headquarters, Bumagat said he needed to relieve himself along the Road 10 in Tondo.

It was during this time when Bumagat allegedly tried to snatch the gun of Aliangan, who served as his escort. During the scuffle, the gun went off and hit the suspect in the chest.

Bumagat was brought to the Gat Andres Bonifacio Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.

The two remaining gang members are detained at the MPD jail.

Meanwhile, the police official is still in serious condition despite a blood transfusion. A vein to his heart was shattered by the bullet, according to his attending doctors.