CEBU, Philippines - A man facing five counts of rape who was one of the top ten most wanted persons in Cebu City was killed when he tried to shoot it out with policemen yesterday dawn in Barangay Tabunok, Talisay City.
Policemen described the suspect, Norman Maramara, 50, of Sitio Kalubihan, as very elusive.
Armed with a warrant of arrest, operatives of the Cebu City Intelligence Branch and Special Weapons and Tactics team from the Cebu City Police Office, and the Pardo Police Station carried out the operation.
Superintendent Romeo Santander, chief of the Cebu City Intelligence Branch, said aside from the rape cases, they also received information that Maramara was a member of a gun-for-hire group and has been involved in a series of shooting incidents in Bulacao and Pardo.
He also said the suspect had been involved in illegal drugs and had worked for a bigtime drug personality.
“Last April (this year), we even conducted buy-bust operation against Maramara but he was able to elude arrest. He was really elusive,” said Santander.
Chief Inspector Michaelangelo Beltran of the Pardo Police Station said they also tried to arrest Maramara before but the suspect had escaped.
The police were able to trace Maramara in his residence in Sitio Kalubihan and immediately applied for a warrant for his arrest.
Beltran said they coordinated with the special units of the CCPO when they received information that the compound where Maramara was staying has other men with high-powered firearms.
During operation, Beltran said they knocked on the door of Maramara’s house but no one answered.
But when they introduced themselves as policemen, the suspect quickly jumped from his house through the window and pointed a 9mm pistol at them, prompting the lawmen to open fire.
“Milayat ni siya sa iyang balay unya nag wara-wara sa iyang armas. Wa mani siya nahibawo nga surrounded na diay ang iyang area, mao tong naunhan siya sa atong tawo”, said Beltran.
Maramara sustained gunshot wounds to his head and body. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival. — Ma. Fatima R. Secuya/LPM (FREEMAN)