Rape suspect killed in ‘shootout’

CEBU, Philippines - A rape suspect who resisted the arrest and two men died in separate shooting incidents in the towns of Compostela, Dumanjug, and Barili.

Jeneno “Baho” Udtohan, of Sitio Aggies, Barangay Poblacion, Compostela, died in a shootout with policemen who were about to serve an arrest warrant for rape at 10:45p.m. last Thursday.

Udtohan succumbed to gunshot wounds in different parts of his body after he was shot by Sr. Insp. Jaime Tolentino, Compostela police chief, who led the operation.

Udtuhan was rushed to the Danao Provincial Hospital but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician. His body was subjected for an autopsy to determine his gunshot wounds.

Tolentino told The FREEMAN they were about to serve the warrant signed by Hon. Teresita Abarquez-Galanida of Branch 56, Regional Trial Court- Mandaue City at that time when Udtohan noticed their presence.

Udtohan who was armed with a .38 revolver shot at the police thrice but only one bullet hit Tolentino in the chest. Tolentino was not hurt because he was wearing a bullet proof vest.

This prompted Tolentino to return fire, hitting Udtohan in different parts of his body.

“Mura og ikatulo o ika-upat ko nakapabuto pero wala ko kahibalo og asa iyang igo kay gidala namo dayon sa hospital,(I think I was able to fire three or four shots but I do not know where he was hit because we immediately brought him to the hospital.)” Tolentino said in a phone interview.

Three empty shells, three bullets and one slug of a .38 revolver as well as three empty shells of a .45 caliber were recovered.

The .38 revolver was submitted to the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory-7 in Camp Sotero Cabahug for ballistic examination as Udtohan was reportedly involved in robberies in the Northern area of Metro Cebu.

Udtohan and Adones Carasaquit were accused of raping a mentally retarded minor in 2010. Carasaquit was arrested last year and was detained at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center.

“Idlas lang gyud ni siya (Udtohan) gani sa miaging operation gipusil pud niya ang pulis wala lang maigo, (Udtohan is very elusive. In the previous operation, he was also shot by the police but he was not hit.)” Tolentino said.

In Dumanjug, a 37-year-old man was shot dead by his friend while resting at a cemetery in Barangay Looc yesterday morning.

Richard Maquiputin, of Barangay Calaboon, succumbed to two gunshot wounds in his left armpit and left leg after he was shot by Jembel Porponio, 32, of Barangay Looc, using a firearm with an undetermined caliber.

Maquiputin was taken to the Barili District Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.

Porponio surrendered to the police 10:30a.m. yesterday but failed to submit the firearm he used.

PO2 Ramon Chinel, homicide investigator, said Maquiputin and Porponio were heading home from a benefit dance in Barangay Li-ong when they met a friend at the cemetery. Both were apparently under the influence of liquor and decided to rest.

Porponio allegedly fell asleep on a bench and due to drunkenness he later fell to the ground.

Maquiputin tried to attend to Porponio who got angry thinking Maquiputin was making fun of him which resulted to their heated argument. Porponio then pulled out his firearm and shot Maquiputin twice.

“Naalimungawan ang suspek unya nagtuo siya nga gibinuangan siya,(The suspect thought his friend was pulling a prank on him.)” Chinel said in a phone interview.

 Porponio is now detained at the Dumanjug stockade pending the filing of a murder case.

In Barili, a 57-year-old man died after he was shot dead by an unidentified assailant Thursday afternoon in Sitio Malapangi, Barangay Balao.

 Eutiquiano Zamora, of Barangay Pangpang, was attending a gathering at the market in the said barangay at 2:20p.m. when the assailant suddenly shot him from behind using a firearm with an unknown caliber.

Zamora succumbed to one gunshot wound to his head and was rushed to the Barili District Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

The assailant fled on foot towards some unknown direction.

PO3 Heinie Astera, of the Barili Police Station, said they are yet to determine the identity of the assailant and to ascertain the motive of the crime.—(FREEMAN)