CEBU, Philippines - The man tagged as Lapu-Lapu City’s most wanted was shot dead by policemen in a shootout in Barangay Mactan late Monday afternoon.
Suspected as a notorious level 2 drug pusher Alex Oyao, 41 years old, married, and a resident of Barangay Mactan was rushed to the Lapu-Lapu City Hospital where he was declared dead by attending physician Dr. Bolivar Miñoza.
Oyao sustained several gunshot wounds after a shootout with the police at past 5 p.m. the other day.
Arrest warrant
The police received reports that Oyao was spotted in a cockfight at Sitio Konsor, Barangay Mactan.
Personnel from Mactan Police Station led by Chief Insp. Conrado Manatad together with SWAT and Tourist Police went to the area to arrest Oyao.
Oyao had a standing warrant for violation of sections 5 and 11 Article 2 of R.A. 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act issued by Executive Judge Toribio Quiwag of RTC 7 Branch 27 in Lapu-Lapu City.
When the police spotted Oyao, they tried to approach him, but sensing the presence of authorities, the man fled.
When the police gave a chase, Oyao allegedly opened fire at them forcing the authorities to return fire.
A running gun battle ensued and when Oyao was cornered in the house of Oscar Eyas, Manatad asked him to give up.
Oyao, however, replied that he would not allow himself to be caught alive and held Sheila, wife of Eyas, hostage.
When he later released her, he again fired at the police and since there was no more human shield to stop them, the police fired at Oyao hitting him in various parts of the body.
The police rushed Oyao to the hospital, but to no avail.
The authorities recovered a caliber .45 pistol with three live ammunition still in the magazine. There were also three empty shells that were found.
Background
Oyao has been hiding from authorities since more than a year ago and illegal drugs case was filed against him.
Oyao has been tagged as responsible for shooting one Jason Pejana last month.
Pejana was hit on the back but was lucky to have found a refuge in the house of a prosecutor in Barangay Mactan.
Chief Insp. Michael Anthony Bastes, chief of the Investigative and Detective Management Bureau (IDMB) in Mandaue city revealed that Oyao also allegedly sold illegal drugs in their city and had a number of runners selling his supplies.
In fact, he even rented a house in Barangay Casuntingan and last February 2, the police received a tip about the suspect’s presence in the place.
It was also reported that Oyao was known to tote an M-16 Armalite rifle.
However, when Bastes team arrived in the area, Oyao was able to escape but the police was able to recover the rifle, which was abandoned.
Police also believed Oyao was involved in the series of shooting incidents involving drug related cases mostly in Lapu-Lapu City, but nobody could pinpoint him positively and some survivors won’t file charges against him.
Manatad also said that there was no autopsy done on the body of Oyao as his family signed a waiver that they did not want it done.
The police also turned over to the family the motorcycle, which Oyao used prior to his death and P6,000 cash found in his possession.
Drug suspect falls
An alleged drug pusher was arrested by the operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7 in a buy-bust operation last Monday afternoon in Barangay Buagsong, Cordova.
Now detained at the PDEA stockade is Geronimo “Emo” Rapada, 44. He was collared in an operation near his house at the said place.
Aside from the two small packets of shabu, which were purchased from Rapada by a poseur buyer, the operatives also recovered one large packet of shabu estimated to weigh about 25 grams from his possession.
The packet of drugs is estimated to have a street value of P115,000.
The evidence was taken to the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory-7 at Camp Sotero Cabahug in Cebu City for chemical analysis.
Rapada’s arrest stemmed from reports of a concerned citizen informing the PDEA of his illegal trade.
The operation was led by IO3 David Mark Maramba who also acted as the poseur buyer.
Rapada has vehemently denied allegations saying the drugs were planted.
Rapada is allegedly a level-2 drug pusher, who could dispose 200 grams of shabu per week.
He allegedly plies his illegal trade in Cordova town and Mandaue City.
Maramba said Rapada was jailed in Lapu-Lapu City for possession of illegal drugs in March 1, 2006. He was released on November 29, 2011.
Rapada will be facing charges for violation of Sections 5 and 11of RA 9165.—with Ria Mae Booc/NLQ