"Drug suspects" maul and shoot policeman

CEBU, Philippines - Five unidentified men shot and seriously injured a policeman before grabbing his firearm in a known drug-infested sitio in Barangay Langtad, Naga yesterday morning.

PO1 Antonio Icalina sustained gunshot wounds to his feet, which gave investigators suspicion that the assailants only intended to warn and not kill him.

Icalina, 30, a resident of Opao, Mandaue City, was assigned in Tudela town, Island of Camotes since January after he was relieved from Naga Police Station for his alleged involvement in illegal drug activities.

He was found at around 7 a.m. yesterday in Sitio Mohon, lying at the pathway near the highway already bloodied and almost unconscious.

The victim, who was later identified by Naga police as Icalina, was rushed to the South General Hospital. It was learned that the victim, although wounded, crawled about 130 feet to the roadside.

Senior Insp. Rolando Evalle, Naga City Police Station chief, in a radio interview, said the victim revealed at the hospital that five men helped one another in mauling him then took his firearm.

Evalle said they also asked the victim what he was doing in the place, but before he could answer, Icalina lost consciousness.

Icalina is allegedly frequently seen in the place.

Evalle said they asked the residents near the crime scene for the possible identities of the suspects but all claimed they did not see the incident or hear any gunshot.

The police official said the sitio is a known drug haven. In fact, they have already arrested several people for drug-related cases in the place and have recently arrested two other men few days ago.

Evalle said he ordered his men to dig deeper into the incident to identify the motive and the identity of the culprits. (FREEMAN)