Batangas trader hunted for killing lawman

BATANGAS – A businessman here is being hunted down for allegedly killing a police officer and wounding another in a shooting incident during a traffic altercation in Tanauan City on Tuesday afternoon, police said.

Superintendent Willy Atun, Tanauan police chief, identified the businessman as Arnel Opena, a resident and owner of a Caltex gasoline station in Barangay Talaga in Tanauan City.

Atun said Opena was positively identified by a witness as the one who fatally shot SPO1 Ruel Ramos, 53, a Talisay policeman, and wounded PO1 Maryjane Ramirez, who is eight-months’ pregnant, along the national highway in Barangay Talaga at around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Ramirez was hit in her hips, causing her baby to be aborted at the CP Reyes Hospital in Tanauan City.

Atun said Ramos and Ramirez were cruising the highway on board a Mitsubishi Adventure on their way to Tanauan City when they were blocked by Opena’s Land Rover with a trailer while he was about to enter his gate.

Atun said Ramos could have blown the car horn repeatedly, enraging Opena.

When Opena entered his garage, he allegedly transferred to another vehicle, an Isuzu Trooper, grabbed his pistol, chased the two police officers and shot them repeatedly.

Ramos died on the spot while Ramirez was in critical condition after undergoing surgery to remove his dead unborn baby.

After the shooting, Opena fled toward Talisay town. Police have launched a region-wide effort to track him down.

Police found four empty shells and a deformed slug from a 9-mm pistol.