Friday, September 27, 2002
Drug suspect who fired at cop faces frustrated homicide rap
By Grecar Nilles
A FRUSTRATED homicide case was already filed with the Regional Trial Court against a suspected drug trader who almost killed the deputy chief of the Talamban Police Station.
The Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor recommended the filing of the case against Rico Villaver alias Ricky Tibon.
Villaver, during a buy-bust operation conducted by three Talamban policemen last Feb. 14, 2001, fired twice at Insp. Rogelio Cortel.
Cortel, who serves as Talamban police station’s deputy station commander for intelligence, was hit in the abdomen.
The prosecutor’s office recommended a P40,000 bail for Villaver, who was arrested during the incident. He, however, was able to post bail for the drug selling case.
One heat-sealed plastic pack of suspected shabu was taken from Villaver during the buy-bust operation.
Villaver’s companion, Antonio Dizon, eluded arrest.
In his affidavit, Cortel said that sometime in November 2000, they received a complaint from residents of a village in Bacayan, Cebu City about Villaver’s illegal activities in their community.
With the complaint, the police then placed Villaver under surveillance for more than a week.
When they found out that Villaver was indeed into the drug trade, Cortel and two of his men, SPO3 Arnel Quiros and PO2 Roberto Damaolao, set up a buy-bust operation for Villaver.
Damaolao was designated as the poseur-buyer, while Cortel and Quiros acted as lookouts.
After Villaver and Dizon had given to Damaolao the drugs, Cortel and Quiros immediately approached them and introduced themselves as policemen.
But Dizon quickly bolted, prompting Quiros and Damaolao to go after him. Cortel was left with Villaver.
When Cortel was about to collar Villaver, the suspected drug dealer resisted, causing a scuffle.
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