Wanted man killed in gunfight with cops

ILOILO CITY, Philippines  — A man wanted for a case of other form of light threats was killed after he fought it out with policemen who were about to serve a warrant of arrest against him at Bo. Obrero in La Paz district of this city Wednesday evening.

Operatives of the Iloilo City Police Office-Special Operations Group (ICPO-SOG) were to serve a warrant of arrest against 35-year-old Mark Ogdang when the incident happened. Members of La Paz Police Station also served as blocking force in the area at the time.

Even before policemen could serve the warrant, however, the suspect, who was just a few meters outside his house, saw the approaching policemen. He then drew out his .45-caliber pistol and fired two shots at them, but failed to hit anyone.

Superintendent Noel Lamsis, ICPO-SOG chief, said he and his men were left with no recourse but to fire back. “Aside from not wanting casualties on our side, we wanted to pre-empt the possibility that civilians living in that populated area will get hit during the exchange of fire,” he said.

Ogdang, who sustained five gunshot wounds on his body, was rushed to the St. Paul’s Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

The charges of threats against Ogdang were filed by the barangay captain of Rizal-Estanzuela of the City Proper district who accused the suspect of frequent indiscriminate firing.

The arrest warrant against him was only issued last August 13, but even before it was released, Lamsis said they have been doing surveillance operations against Ogdang for more than a month already, to uncover the latter’s alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade. “Ogdang was considered notorious in Brgy. Rizal-Estanzuela. Maybe, he opted to transfer to Bo. Obrero and just rent a house there so that police operatives could not easily penetrate his turf,” Lamsis added.

Chief Insp. Alexander Rosales, La Paz Police chief, said there were two teams sent to serve the arrest warrant because they considered Ogdang armed and dangerous. At a young age, he was imprisoned at the National Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City for a murder case. He was granted parole on June 9, 2010.