One killed, two hurt in Bacolod shootout

BACOLOD City, Philippines—A policeman was killed while his colleague and a bar caretaker were injured in a midnight shootout with a suspected gun-for-hire at the Goldenfields Commercial Complex in this city Sunday, police said.

The slain policeman was identified as PO3 Arnold Cañal, who was fatally shot in the head, while the wounded one is PO2 Federico Nicolas, who sustained a bullet wound in the leg, Senior Supt.  Ricardo de la Paz, Bacolod City police director, said.

Both policemen are reportedly assigned at the Bacolod City police Station10 but are detailed with the PNP Regional Intelligence Unit.

De la Paz identified the suspects as a certain Ramis Arsenas alias “Kid Ramir,” allegedly a gun-for-hire, and Lino Cuadra alias “Dodoy” and as well as two other unidentified suspects who fled  after the incident on board a gray Pajero with place number  395 and a white Adventure vehicle with registration number.

Initial investigations disclosed that Arsenas, after paying their bill  in a beerhouse, fired his firearm outside the bar.

Cañal and Nicolas, who happened to be in the area, responded and managed to disarm Ramir, however a shootout ensued between the two and the companions of the suspect.

Cañal was declared dead on arrival in a hospital.

Samson Suico, the caretaker of the beerhouse, was also hit in the leg by a stray bullet.

De la Paz said pursuit operation is ongoing against the suspects. (FREEMAN)