JENNIFER Mercader, the former barangay captain of Lugo, Borbon, Cebu, was shot dead during a shootout with police in Negros Occidental on Monday morning, Sept. 28, 2020.
Recovered from the scene were eight packets of suspected shabu valued at P472,000, a .45 pistol and a shotgun.
“There was an armed confrontation and he ended up getting killed. The pursuing police were just protecting themselves,” said Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Brig. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro in Cebuano.
On March 5, 2019, Mercader escaped from the Medellin District Jail in Cebu. He had been detained because of his involvement in the illegal drug trade.
He also confessed to being a hit man, saying that some police officials even hired his services.
After his escape, Mercader fled to Barangay Minoyan in Murcia town in Negros Occidental where he continued his illegal activities like peddling illegal drugs.
The Bacolod City police received information about his whereabouts and his illegal activities, which prompted them to launch an operation against him with the help of the Regional Intelligence Division of the PRO 6 and the PRO 7.
“Mercader decided to hibernate outside Region 7 but you know, the long hand of the law will surely reach you if you are a criminal. So the only time justice is served is when a criminal is arrested or, in the case of Mercader, killed during a police operation. In effect, it is the job of law enforcers to work hard to round up criminals,” Ferro said in Cebuano.
Mercader had several pending warrants of arrest. With his death, his cases would be dismissed. (AYB, BBT / MMC)