ONE of the three suspects in a shooting incident in Valencia City on Friday, June 27, that left two victims dead belongs to the Cagayan de Oro police force.
The Cagayan de Oro Police Office (Cocpo) confirmed earlier reports that PO1 Raymond Pagtalunan is a member of Divisoria police here.
"Yes, he's part of our team. He is under the supervision of Divisoria police chief Henry Cay-as," Chief Inspector Lemuel Gonda, Cocpo spokesperson, told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro by phone Sunday.
Pagtalunan, resident of Zone 6, barangay Bayabas, first identified himself as a police officer when he was brought for admission at Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) Friday evening.
He allegedly hid under the identity of Edgar Tanggo when the incident happened, the police said.
Inspector Joanne Galvez, Bukidnon provincial police office (PPO) spokesperson, told this paper that initial investigations of Valencia City police office identified the police officer as Tanggo based on his identification cards.
Pagtalunan was rushed to the hospital after he pulled the trigger of his .45 caliber pistol that he aimed into his mouth resulting to the paralysis of the half of his body.
Due to the incident, Pagtalunan is on mandatory leave for now, Gonda said.
Gonda said while Pagtalunan is in critical condition, police will conduct its own investigation.
"We cannot speculate for now from what had happened. Let us wait for the right people to confirm the result of the incident's investigation," he said.
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Reports surfaced that a family rift over land dispute may have caused the shooting.
The incident occurred last Friday, June 27 around 7 a.m. at Purok 4, barangay Laligan in Valencia.
Valencia police first arrested Leo Serbano, 30, resident of barangay Lapasan here. Another unidentified suspect was able to escape from the area.
The three suspects allegedly shot Joseph Pastrano, resident of Laligan.
The victim succumbed to 12 gunshot wounds in different parts of his body, investigators said.
Hours after the said incident, Pagtalunan allegedly shot another victim named Ritchel Emolin, 30, on his chest and stomach around 12:30 p.m. at Purok 10 in barangay Sinayawan.
Emolin was pronounced dead by physicians at the Valencia Sanitarium Hospitals when he was rushed there.
In the course of chasing the suspects on board a black motorcycle in Purok 13, Sinayawan, the vehicle crashed leaving the suspects fleeing on foot.
Valencia police asked Pagtalunan to surrender when he was cornered inside a house. However, the suspect shoved the gun into his mouth and tried to kill himself.