"Drug buy-bust" in village cockpit? Dentist, 2 others killed, 6 wounded in shootout

ORMOC CITY, Philippines — What the police claimed was a drug buy-bust operation inside a cockpit at Barangay Tambulilid in this city on Tuesday had resulted in a shootout and the death of three people, including a young dentist who was just elected president of the Ormoc Host Lions Club the day before.

The fatalities were identified as Dr. Jay Movilla, 32, newly elected president of the Lions Club and the incumbent president of the Philippine Dental Association-Ormoc Chapter; Wilfredo Alberto, a member of the city's Civil Security Unit; and Sim Serrano, the alleged subject of the drug buy-bust.

Six other people were injured and one of them was Movilla's vice-president Rodolfo Villar, 63, who had to undergo a surgery to remove a bullet lodged in his left chest. Villar, a former chairman of the neighboring village of Naungan, is now at the ICU of the Ormoc Doctors Hospital.

The other five injured were Alex Oliveros, 40, a resident of  Tambulilid; Joey Liporado, 38, who sustained a gunshot wound on his right cheek that exited on his left cheek; Gonzalo Mindaros, 57, of  Barangay Manlilinao, also in this city; Rene Ejares; and Melodia Mangubat, 32, who had just arrived at the cockpit to fetch her father when the shooting happened. She was also reportedly in critical condition with a bullet lodged in her back.

There were many more who reportedly suffered slight injuries from the stampede that ensued, but have not sought medical attention in hospitals.

The "buy-bust" was done in the Tambulilid cockpit where, as residents said, cockfights are held twice a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays). Whether the cockpit's operation was legal or not was still to be ascertained, said city Councilor Vincent Rama, peace and order committee chair. The City Council has plans to invite Barangay Chairman Wilfredo Jaballa to shed light on the matter.

Meanwhile, City Police Director, Senior Superintendent Jose Macanas, said the buy-bust team is now being investigated to determine if there were lapses in procedure that resulted in the carnage. The eight members of the team, including Police Station 3 head, Chief  Inspector Edgardo Encina, and his deputy, Senior Inspector Harris Rebato, have been temporarily relieved from their posts..

Buy-bust team member, Senior Police Officer 1 Renato Singcol, said the operation was done outside the cockfighting area, but the subject (Sim Serrano) allegedly fled towards the cockpit and started shooting, forcing the policemen to shoot back.

The official report states that the policemen were "forced to engage in order to neutralize the suspect and to avoid further harm to the civilians inside the cockpit as some were already visibly hit."

The Scene of  the Crime Operatives  recovered from the scene a .45-caliber pistol, a .38-caliber gun and three spent shells. They are still in the process of recovering from the hospitals the bullets extracted from the injured victims. They also retrieved a bagful of dollar bills that they returned to the family of  Movilla.

Meanwhile, one of the injured victims slammed the police for doing the buy-bust in a crowded place, without regard to the safety of innocent civilians. (FREEMAN)