Suspect in rape-slay of sisters killed in gunfight with cops
BUTUAN CITY – The alleged rapist of two sisters, aged seven and eight years old, was killed in a gunfight with policemen in Agusan del Sur town, a progress report reaching the police regional headquarters here yesterday said.
Slain in the shootout was Welmar B. Peñaloga, 22, a resident of Purok-6 Spring Wood, Barangay San Teodoro, Bunawan town, Agusan del Sur.
Seized at the crime scene were a caliber-.38 revolver loaded with three bullets, and spent cartridges from the gunfire. A sachet of shabu was also found in the pocket of Penaloga.
A report received by the regional command and tactical operation center of Northeastern Mindanao Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13) based at Camp Rafael C. Rodriguez here yesterday from Agusan del Sur Police Provincial Office (PPO), said the suspect was sitting in the terrace of his house in Purok-6 Springwood at 10:30 p.m. last January 29 when pursuing policemen arrived.
“Operating police force ordered the suspect to surrender but the latter instead forcibly resisted arrest and drew his short firearm. He then fired towards the police personnel and immediately jumped from the terrace and tried to escape, prompting the police to fire back that resulted in his death,” the Agusan del Sur PPO report said.
According to Agusan del Sur PPO report, Peñaloga was suspect in the rape and brutalslaying of two sisters, aged seven and eight years old (identities withheld), who were reported missing since 8 a.m. January 29 in Barangay San Teodoro, Bunawan, Agusan del Sur.
“Together with the barangay officials and Bunawan Anti-Illegal Drugs Police Auxiliary Unit, elements of Bunawan Municipal Police Station (MPS) conducted search and rescue operation for the two missing children believed to be in the mountainous area in Purok-4, Barangay San Teodoro ,Bunawan town of that same province. It was confirmed that the two children were buried in a shallow grave in the said area,” Agusan del Sur PPO report said.
Initial investigation conducted by the Bunawan MPS and SOCO team of Agusan del Sur PPO also showed that the victims sustained laceration wounds in the neck, and were raped.