Policeman shot dead

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — A member of the Estancia Police Station was shot dead by riding in tandem gunmen yesterday morning at Barangay Tuble in San Dionision town of Iloilo province.

The victim, PO3 Marlino Abres, 51, was riding his motorcycle on his way to work when gunned down by the two unidentified assailants who were reportedly tailing him from his house in Brgy. Apolojista of Sara town.

Abres was shot at around 8:45 a.m. and was rushed to Sara District Hospital but was declared dead almost two hours later.

Chief Insp. Danilo de los Santos, San Dionisio Police chief, said Abres succumbed to a lone gunshot wound on his back. “He managed to fire back twice but we believe that he failed to hit his assailants,” he added.

Police investigators are yet to disclose the motive of the incident. But since Abres is a law enforcer, his designation as leader of the Estancia Police’s patrol team could have something to do with the incident, de los Santos added.

Despite what happened, Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz, Jr., Police Regional Office-6 director, said the enforcement of the election gun ban has been effective. “There was a decrease of crime incidents and we have also prevented crimes from happening. But that’s something that we could not quantify,” he added.

The gun ban also enabled Western Visayas to have fewer number of criminals but, as of yesterday, PRO-6 records showed steady increase of gun ban violators at 84.

Iloilo City led the most number of violators with 22. Bacolod City with 20, Negros Occidental (13), Iloilo (11), Capiz (eight), Aklan (five), Antique (three) and Guimaras (two).

The number of seized firearms already reached 55, of which 15 were high-powered, along with 27 bladed weapons and one hand grenade.

The police have filed 62 cases against the suspects while 16 others are now under investigation. (FREEMAN)