A 30-YEAR-OLD man was killed while his cohort was hurt after they allegedly exchanged fire with the police at Sitio Lambing, Barangay Catarman, Lilo-an, Cebu on Wednesday evening, August 7, 2019.
Florencio Almerez, Jr. and Aldrin Lucernas, 22, were onboary a motorcycle when they suddenly figured in a firefight with local police at around 8:15 p.m. last Wednesday.
Police Maj. Dan Colipano, Liloan police chief, said they initially received a report from a concerned citizen about two suspicious armed men on board a motorcycle and were surveying in their area.
When town police officers arrived in Sitio Lambing, Almerez and Lucernas started firing at them first, initiating the firefight which lasted for three to five minutes.
Almerez, who was shot by police during the firefight, was rushed to the Liloan Municipal Health Office but died just before arriving.
Lucernas, on one hand, was brought to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City for medical attention.
Recovered at the crime scene was a .45 caliber pistol.
Colipano said the two suspects were from Danao City and that they have yet to find out what they were doing in Catarman prior the incident.
He said they also have to check the suspects' background to find out if they were involve in illegal drug activities or any other criminal cases.
This even if the police did not recover any illegal drugs from the suspects.
He also said none from the residents there reportedly knew of the suspects.
Almerez Jr. was rushed to the Liloan Municipal Health Office but was declared dead on arrival.
Lucernas, on one hand, was brought to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center for medical attention.
Colipano said Lucernas will face charges for frustrated murder and violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act. (WBS)