Kuratong Baleleng ‘member’ killed by cops in Lapu-Lapu
A wanted person from Zamboanga Del Sur who was an alleged member of crime syndicate Kuratong Baleleng was shot dead by the police who were trying to arrest him Thursday in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.
Edgar Digamo alias “Arnold”, a native of Mahayag, Zamboanga Del Sur and was hiding in Cebu for almost 13 years particularly in Barangay Canjulao, Lapu-Lapu City, died of four gunshot wounds to his body.
He reportedly tried to shoot first at the arresting policemen, prompting them to return fire.
At around 3 p.m. last Thursday, elements of the Cebu Provincial Intelligence Branch, Investigation and Detection Management Branch of LapuLapu City Police Office and Mahayag Police Station served the warrant of arrest against Digamo for double murder with multiple attempted murders.
Chief Inspector Homer Dumalag, chief of Mahayag Police Station, said Digamo was a member of a gun-for-hire group operating in Zamboanga Del Sur.
Digamo, Dumalag added, was an alleged member of Kuratong Baleleng group, a crime syndicate in the country.
In May 2002, Digamo with his cohorts were reportedly hired to kill a family, reportedly over land conflict issue, which resulted to the death of two children. Their parents and other sibling survived.
Dumalag added Digamo’s cohorts were already arrested and now serving sentence for the crime while Digamo escaped to Cebu.
Inspector Leo Logroño of the PIB said they were already expecting Digamo to resist arrest considering his background.
“Pagduol pa lang namo, mura’g wa gyud siya’y intensyon nga mosurrender. Pagpaila namo nga pulis mi, nibunot dayon siya (firearm). Pero wala hinuon siya kapabuto. Naunhan man siya sa mga pulis,” he narrated.
Logroño said Digamo suffered four gunshot wounds to different parts of his body.
The suspect was rushed to the Lapu-Lapu City District Hospital for treatment but was pronounced dead on arrival by the attending physician.
Police confiscated from Digamo’s possession a Colt mk 9mm with one magazine loaded with ammunition.
The chief of PIB, Superintendent Rodulfo Albotra, said they applied extreme caution in the implementation of the warrant of arrest considering Digamo’s background.
“Any movement, atong gitan-aw karon nga kung naa man lang resistance, maybe naa’y ipakita na pagsukol, and in fact he displayed nga nisukol siya and he has a firearm. For that effect, the actions of our operatives in the ground is justifiable and fair,” said Albotra.