Alleged pusher injures cop

CEBU, Philippines - An officer of the Tabogon Police Station was shot allegedly by the relatives of a suspected drug peddler during a buy-bust operation in barangay Muabog, Tabogon town the other night.

Senior Insp. Alexander Ancao, chief of the Tabogon Police Station, along with his men and the elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency conducted a buy bust at around 9 p.m. in Muabog.

Their target was identified as Noel Soronio, of legal age and a resident of the said place, and is reportedly the “number one drug pusher” in the area.

It was PO3 Ramil Maglasang who acted as poseur buyer while his colleagues took position a few meters away from him.

When Maglasang positively negotiated with Noel near a basketball court, he then handed over two P20 bills (marked money) to Noel in exchange of the four sticks of rolled marijuana.

At this point, Maglasang introduced himself as a police officer. After which, PO2 Tito Precillas acted at once as backup when Maglasang handcuffed Noel.

When they were about to go, Maglasang noticed a man behind Precillas who was about to shoot the latter at the back of his neck. Maglasang moved to parry the man’s hand so Precillas would not be hit. However, it was too late. Maglasang was hit in the right torso.

It was later identified that Arman Soronio, the man who shot Maglasang, is an uncle of Noel.

Exchanges of fire occurred which went on for around two minutes, police said.

The policemen were able to return fire and hit Arman in the right leg. The authorities even noticed that Arman has two companions who also fired at them.

The cops also shared that they encountered difficulty in firing at the two unidentified men as there were people in the area playing basketball during the shootout.

Maglasang and Arman were taken to the Juan Dosado Memorial Hospital. However, Maglasang was transferred to the Chong Hua Hospital.

The Tabogon Police confiscated a .38 caliber revolver from Arman’s possession along with two empty shells and one slug jammed in the barrel.

Precillas, in a follow-up operation, called up his team and informed them that he recovered another .22 Magnum revolver and P400, believed to be proceeds of marijuana sale, kept inside the U-Box (compartment) of Arman’s motorcycle.

Senior Supt. Erson Digal, Cebu Provincial Police Office director, said that when he was informed of the incident, he went immediately to the Chong Hua Hospital to “check on the medical bulletin of his man.”

Digal said that as of 11 a.m. yesterday, Maglasang was not yet operated on. But that he already underwent an X-ray examination for about three times because of the position of the bullet that got lodged in his body.

Digal added that Chief Supt. Lani-O Nerez, Police Regional Office-7 director, visited Maglasang at the hospital to hand over to him the “Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting.” Another award will be given to the Tabogon Police soon. 

The CPPO director added that Nerez gave Maglasang’s family the assurance that all hospital expenses will be taken care of.

Appropriate charges are now readied against the suspects and that a follow-up operation is set for the identification of the other two who fired at them. — /MEEV        FREEMAN NEWS)