Fugitive evades cops once again
Authorities are hunting down a supposed hired killer who evaded policemen out to arrest him at FS Catanico, Cagayan de Oro City, over the weekend.
Police operatives climbed the hilly portion of said village to serve the search warrant against Mamerto Tapdasan for illegal possession of guns, bullets and explosives, late afternoon, Sunday, September 10.
“Gitungas nato ang mga pito ka bungtod to implement sa search warrant pero nakaikyas ang atong target,” Chief Inspector Evan Viñas, police station 10 chief, said.
The suspect may have noticed their presence before the operatives arrived at and immediately fired at them, triggering a 3-minute fire fight.
Viñas said no one was hit by bullets but some of the operatives sustained slight injuries when they tried to maneuver during the gun battle.
“Walay naigo pero naay gamay mga injured tungod sa pagmaneuver ug paglikay kay bungtod man gud ang area,” Viñas said.
Authorities seized two improvised shotgun (sumpak) with five live ammos, assorted identification cards (IDs) and an MK2 fragmentation grenade during the full search of the house.
Viñas said the suspect was said to be a hired killer based on the accounts of witnesses of a shooting incident that killed a retired policeman in the village some time last year.
Viñas said the suspect originally hails from Quezon, Bukidnon but is living with a friend in the upland village.
“Maingon nato siya nga hired killer kay siya ang gitudlo sa mga witnesses niadtong pagkapatay sa usa ka retired police diri niadtong miaging tuig,” Viñas said.
“Makakuha tag ballistic exam sa iya mahibal-an nato if involved siya sa laing mga shooting incidents diri sa syudad,” Viñas added.
The station commander said they are still determining whether the suspect had a hand in other shooting incidents in the city.
Viñas also warned the public to report to authorities if the armed suspect on the run, who stands about 5'5” with brown complexion, is sighted.
The police will pressed charges against the suspect for illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives.