Police kill fugitive tied to Puntod fire in shootout

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent .

POLICE shot and killed a fugitive linked to an arson that resulted in four deaths in Puntod, during a shootout in Balingasag, Misamis Oriental on Thursday night.

Senior Insp. Roberto Cambi, Balingsag police  chief, identified the dead fugitive  as Michael Dahino of Barangay Mindangua, Balingasag town.

Cambi said Dahino was killed after he fired shots at members of the Misamis Oriental Police Intelligence  Branch and the Balingasag police who were out to arrest him based on a warrant issued by Judge Jose Escobido of Regional  Trial Court-Branch  37 at around 6:30 pm on Thursday.

Police said Dahino exchanged gunshots with the police with a caliber .38 revolver.

“Wala gyud  na-serve ang iyang warrant kay sa dihang iyang nakita ang atong mga police  nagpadulong na kaniya nga nagbitbit ug papil, iya dayon kining gipusil sabay  dagan, ug miesback ang atong mga operative,” said Cambi.

Dahino was ordered arrested in connection with a fire that killed four people on Corrales extension, at St. John, Puntod, in the week hours of March 10, 2018.

The case against him was filed by Melody Cerillo,  43, whose house was burned. The fire killed Cerillo’s three children and a woman from Claveria town.

The Cerillo children were Mark Anthony, 12; Michelle Ann, 13; and Mark Kenneth, 22. The fourth victim was 24-year-old Connie Nandong of Claveria in Misamis Oriental.

Four were hurt in the Puntod fire, including Cerillo herself.

Cambi said the police had no intention to kill Dahino. “I-pin down man lang unta to siya kay armado man ma-o to nga amo siya nga gidala sa  hospital dinhi sa Balingasag,” he said.

Dahino was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.

Police seized Dahino’s revolver that still had two bullets, two empty shells, and a grenade.

Cambi said Dahino held the grenade in his left hand.

At the hospital, police allegedly found 10 sachets of suspected shabu, and marijuana leaves in Dahino’s pockets.