"Robber" killed, pal wounded

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – A suspected member of the Garsola Robbery gang was killed while one of his companions was believed wounded in a shootout with pursuing law enforcers in San Jose, Negros Oriental Sunday afternoon.

Another companion was able to escape, but two civilians, a habal-habal driver and his backrider, were also wounded when the fleeing suspects commandeered the motorcycle for hire and shot at the victims.

Chief Insp Jaime Dulcero, San Jose Police chief in an interview with DyRM radio station Monday morning, identified the slain suspect as Misael Tindoc of Brgy. Malaunay in Valencia town, but initial police report stated that he was a resident of Brgy. Apoloy in Siaton town.

Tindoc was identified through a money transfer ID card and by a cousin who came to the funeral parlor in Sibulan town, probably to claim the remains of the suspect.

Negros Oriental Police provincial director, Sr. Supt. Edward Carranza, said that around 3 p.m. Sunday, three armed men, in military uniforms, barged into the house of San Jose Councilor Roger Dasig in Brgy. Cancawas, and carted away P24,000 cash, three mobile phones and two boxes of gamecock gaffs worth P50,000, and a bag.

Quoting a report from the San Jose Police station, Carranza said Dasig and his family were taking some snacks inside their house at the time of the incident. The suspects ordered the household members to drop to the floor and demanded for their valuables.

The robbers succeeded and, on their way out, one of them fired his gun outside the victims’ house. Dasig quickly called the police and gave the latter some information that led authorities to believe the suspects belonged to the Garsola gang.

Dulcero alerted his men and the Barangay Intelligence Network for a pursuit operation and, five hours later in Brgy. Basak, they spotted the suspects trying to take habal-habals or motorcycles-for-hire.

The habal-habal drivers did not stop upon seeing the suspects with firearms. The latter fired at them, hitting a back rider, Marivic Mila, and one of the drivers, Heber Espanillo. Both are now confined at a hospital in Dumaguete City.

Blocking force personnel, consisting of the police and the military, saw the fleeing suspects in another barangay of San Jose and engaged the latter in a firefight. It was at this time that Tindoc was killed, as his companions escaped, although one of them was wounded, according to the police.

Recovered from Tindoc was a .45 caliber pistol with four live ammunitions, two backpacks containing one KG-9mm pistol with two magazines and nine live ammunitions, assorted items such as amulets, scarves, documents, sets of gaffs, two wallets and two mobile phones.  - THE FREEMAN