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Thursday, August 03, 2006
Rob gang leader, 2 cops slain in grenade blast
By Neil C. Rio
MABINAY, Negros Oriental -- A rob gang leader and two policemen died in a grenade blast in Barangay Bagtic after an almost 12-hour manhunt operation for the former and his group who fled aboard a commandeered vehicle after they held up a businessman in Barangay Azagra, Tanjay City early Tuesday morning.
Mabinay police identified the slain alleged hold-up chief as a certain Toto from Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
The policemen who were killed in the incident were SPO1 Edmer Tumapa and SPO1 Edmundo Banong.
Initial police reports said Toto and two companions identified as Jerry Espino, 24, and Jun Vasquez, 33, ransacked at gunpoint the house of Tanjay City general service office head Bogard Ortega Colina around 7:30 Tuesday morning.
After the robbery, the gang commandeered their victim's metallic gray Toyota Corolla and P17,000 cash and escaped heading for Mabinay.
Alerted by a report, policemen from Tanjay City and Bais Philippine National Police (PNP) went on a manhunt and radioed the Mabinay PNP headed by Inspector Teodorico T. Picardal.
Cops from Tanjay City were led by their chief Juanito S. Condes while Bais PNP was led by chief of police Carlos M. Lacuesta Jr.
Reinforced by men from the First Company PNP Regional Mobile Group (RMG), the joint force set up roadblocks in Barangay Paniabonan, Mabinay.
Two hours after the hold-up, the joint Mabinay and RMG force, augmented by the Tanjay City and Bais City police, spotted the getaway vehicle but by then the occupants have escaped on foot heading for Barangay Luyang.
An hour later after a coordinated operation, the joint force arrested Espino and Vasquez at crossing Tubod in Barangay Bulwang.
The authorities recovered a Bentley Model 30p shotgun, two live-gauge live ammunition, a Colt automatic caliber .45 with no serial number, a caliber .45 magazine, a calibre .45 live bullet, a black bonnet and holster, a flashlight, a wallet, belt, two rolls of packing tape, and personal items in the suspects' possession including and a residence certificate.
During interrogation, the two men pointed Toto, allegedly a military man, as holding the P17,000 loot and that he followed another trail after leaving the getaway vehicle.
Around 7 p.m., the Mabinay police and RMG 7 elements rushed to Bagtic after receiving a text message about the presence of a suspicious man in the area.
The joint police force tracked the suspect who refused to surrender resulting to a struggle between him and his captors.
Toto pulled out an apparently primed grenade, which exploded, killing him and seriously injuring Tumapa, Banong, Picardal, PO1 Ferdinand Real Alipan, and barangay intelligence agent Ignacio Baldoza.
They were rushed to Bais District Hospital but Tumapa died on the way and Banong succumbed as he was transferred to Silliman University Medical Center in Dumaguete City.
The police recovered the stolen P 17,000 and a diamond ring from the slain alleged rob gang leader.
(August 3, 2006 issue)
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