Bien Unido town: Bohol councilor hurt in shootout with NBI agents

CEBU - A town councilor in Bien Unido, Bohol was wounded after shooting it out with operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) serving a search warrant for illegal possession of firearms against him yesterday dawn.

Councilor Regalado Bonado was arrested after a 15-minute gunfight with the combined elements from the NBI regional office and NBI Bohol District Office.

Bonado’s father, Roberto, was also arrested for possession of a 12-gauge shotgun and two caliber .38 revolvers and several assorted ammunition.

Supervising Agent Jose Ermie Monsanto, who led the agents from Cebu, said that they were about to serve the search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court branch 9 judge Geraldine Faith Econg in Cebu City at 4:30 yesterday dawn against Regalado in barangay Nueva Esperanza, Bien Unido for violation of the firearms law when the subject fired at them.

Luckily no one from among the NBI operatives was hit. Monsanto said the team sought cover while Regalado continued to fire at them prompting the law enforcers to return fire. Monsanto said that Regalado was hit at the nape prompting him to surrender.

Regalado was immediately rushed to the Talibon District Hospital for treatment, but was later transferred to the Celestino Gallares Memorial Medical Center in Tagbilaran City.

Unlike Regalado, his father did not have the chance to fire at the NBI operatives because he was caught by surprise. However, he was caught in possession of the 12-gauge shotgun.

There were also six barangay tanods taken into custody for questioning, but were later released. Aside from the shotgun and the two cal. 38 revolvers, the NBI also seized a caliber .45 pistol, which Regalado used.

The NBI also recovered from them several paraphernalia used for witchcraft such as skulls, a voodoo doll and list of alleged subject for the craft.

The father and son are also suspects in the killing of a barangay councilman in Nueva Esperanza where Regalado is the barangay captain and president of the Association of Barangay Councils of the town. — Fred P. Languido/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)