3 men slain in shootout were hired guns

The three men who were killed during a shootout with members of the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) and the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) were noted hired guns for drug lords in Talisay City and Cebu City.

According to Senior Insp. Alejandro Batobalonos, PDEU team leader, they raided the hideout of Ramonito Maneja, also known as Duterte; Arnel Hernani, alias Alvin; and a certain Joseph at Camella Homes in Talisay City in the first week of November, where they seized high-caliber firearms.

Batobalonos believed these were used to take out the rivals of their employers.

During their surveillance, police found out that Maneja’s group also escorted drug suppliers during the latter’s runs or when the latter collected drug proceeds. Police also learned that the group sold illegal drugs in Talisay City and in southern towns.

Soon after PO1 Jaylord Joseph Taping was shot Friday morning, Nov. 23, the PIB conducted a manhunt.

The suspects in the shooting were identified as Hernani and Joseph.

Batobalonos said they received a call from a Lawaan 3 barangay official that the suspects were in San Jose Village. They immediately went to the house the three men were said to be hiding to check and found not only Hernani and Joseph but also Maneja.

Before they entered the premises, Batobalonos said he asked them to surrender. But when they got inside, they were shot at by the house’s occupants, he said.

Maneja was said to have also killed a Lawaan 3 barangay councilor, but he was never charged for it because he allegedly threatened the victim’s relatives.

It was learned that members of Maneja’s group were known troublemakers in Sitio Mananga 2 in the neighboring barangay of Tabunok.

When residents of Sitio Mananga 2 learned that the three men were killed in the shootout, they reportedly rejoiced.

“The three men were known to point their guns if people playing basketball in the gym did not stop whenever the three passed by. They also were known to confront whoever looked at them,” Batobalonos said in Cebuano.