Cops kill 3 Libertad shootout suspects

By JIGGER J. JERUSALEM
and NITZ ARANCON
Correspondents

THREE suspected members of an armed group that engaged law enforcers in a shootout in Libertad town, Misamis Oriental, on Monday were killed by law enforcers on separate occasions yesterday.

Police have yet to disclose the full name of the first fatality but he was nicknamed “Bulaw” in reference to his hair dye. He was killed in the morning.

Two others, both under police custody, were riddled with bullets in Sinai, Laguindingan town at around 2 pm. One of them was Richardson Perez and the other, arrested in Lirupan, Barangay Poblacion in Libertad on Wednesday, has not been identified by the police until now.

Police have yet to say why Perez and the other suspect were killed in Laguindingan.

In Libertad, witnesses said Bulaw, believed to be the group’s leader based on his companions’ confessions, went around Barangay Poblacion in Libertad, asking for water before he was shot by the police.

A resident of the village, who asked not to be named for security reasons, told reporters he was approached by the suspect and asked him for a glass of water.

He said Bulaw sported tattoos all over and wore what he described as items that look like amulets on his hip, neck, wrist and ankle, and even on his pocket.

Aside from drinking the water offered to him, the resident said Bulaw also washed his hands and feet, and even asked for clothing and footwear.

“He asked if I have an extra shirt and flip-flops. My wife gave him my granddaughter’s used flip-flops,” he said.

When Bulaw left, he said, his wife called up the police.

A team of police officers happened to be nearby as they continue the search for the culprits when they received the call.

The villager said they identified Bulaw through a photo taken of him going around Poblacion and shared by residents on social media.

Col. Roy Bahian, Misamis Oriental provincial police chief, said officers fired several shots at the suspect before he went down on a mound planted with bananas.

Bahian said the suspect had a grenade with him.

Also found from were two cellphones and a bunch of identification cards bearing different names, but Bahian said they are able to identify the killed suspect based on a document taken from him.

Bahian said the alleged perpetrator was shot dead by officers in Barangay Poblacion, Libertad, after four days of hiding from pursuing operatives.

Bahian said Bulaw was the one who shot S/Sgt. Ronald Caayupan of the Libertad police when the armed group fired at the officers manning a checkpoint in Libertad on Monday night.

Also killed during that encounter on Monday was Jephone Tinamisan, from Ozamiz City, the vehicle’s driver.

Taken from the suspects’ vehicle, a white Mitsubishi Mirage, were four pieces caliber .45 handguns, two pieces KG 9 semi-automatic firearms, a 9mm pistol, four pieces hand grenade, and five small plastic sachets containing white substance suspected to be “shabu” or crystal meth.

On Wednesday, police filed cases against the suspects for murder, frustrated murder, illegal possession of firearms and explosives, and illegal drugs, said Lt. Col. Mardy Hortillosa, regional police spokesperson.