The fatality was identified as Jayvee Miag-ao, an alleged drug peddler in barangay Cansaga, Consolacion town. He has a warrant for his arrest for murder issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Silvia Aguirre-Paderangga.
Miag-ao, who was reportedly a member of Tau Gamma Phi fraternity, was tagged in the shooting of SPO1 Reynaldo Matillano and PO3 David Enterina last June 27 during an operation for his arrest.
The four-man CIDG team led by Chief Inspector Fermin Armendares rushed to Moalboal upon learning that Miag-ao was spotted in barangay Balabagon.
SPO1 Delfin Bontuyan told The Freeman that they have waited since dawn yesterday to make sure that the information is positive. Moments later, their informant said that Miag-ao was out of the house owned by a certain Lito Tabañag.
To be sure if it was really Miag-ao, the CIDG men brought with them another informant who pinpointed Miag-ao from among the group of people outside a house near the road.
Bontuyan, who was driving a Toyota Revo, then maneuvered his vehicle and tried to grab Miag-ao, who was quick to notice the lawmen and opened fire, hitting the left door of the car. But Bontuyan's companions retaliated and hit Miag-ao in the head.
When frisked by police, the injured Miag-ao yielded a fragmentation grenade and a .45 caliber pistol with four live ammunitions.
The CIDG operatives then brought Miag-ao to Barili District Hospital. But due to his severe head injuries, he was transferred to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center where he was declared dead on arrival.
Police also arrested Miag-ao's companions Rex Sibumit of Villagonzalo II of barangay Tejero, Cebu City and his live-in partner Laura Jane del Cruz, and Arnel Gartulfo.
Sibunit was reportedly Miag-ao's companion when he shot the two policemen the other month.
Operatives led by Chief Inspector Fermin Armendares originally planned a buy-bust operation against Dante Halang.
But they learned that Halang was just a middleman who took his shabu supplies from Miag-ao, prompting them to change their plan and focused on Miag-ao.
When Miag-ao and Sibumit arrived, the operatives thought that what Miag-ao had inside his wrapped "malong" was the P45,000 worth of shabu they had ordered through Halang.
But they were surprised when Miag-ao came closer and quickly drew a pistol and shot them, hitting Matillano in the abdomen and Enterina in the waist.
While recuperating at the Chong Hua Hospital, the two policemen were awarded with the "Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting" by regional police director Chief Supt. Silverio Alarcio. - Edwin Ian Melecio