Man hurt, 2 brothers caught after stroll ended in shootout

A man was wounded in a shootout with the police while two of his brothers were caught in Barangay Catarman, Liloan yesterday morning.

Supt. Randy Korret, the town police chief, identified the wounded man as Aldrin Kiseo Pontanar, who was brought to a public hospital.

Pontanar’s brothers, Rafael and Eugene, were detained. An investigation showed that Robinson Fernandez Conahap confronted the suspects after they almost bumped his female relative while walking.

Two of the suspects pulled out their guns and aimed them at Conahap, the woman, and her daughter.

Conahap reported the incident to Barangay Intelligence Network members, who, in turn, informed the police station.

Four police officers requested backup after the suspects fired two shots.

Eight more officers led by Korret went to the area. The Pontanars ran and hid inside a hut in a compound. They refused to surrender and allegedly engaged the police in a shootout.

The exchange ended after Pontanar was hit. His two other brothers did not shoot.

A .45 pistol and a .357 revolver, both loaded, were confiscated from the suspects. Empty shells were also found in the compound.

Korret said the police are investigating the background of the suspects.

Index crimes, which include physical injuries, dropped by some 29 percent in Cebu Province in the first five months of the year, a recent report said.