Alleged robber dies in shootout

CEBU, Philippines - A suspected robber was shot and killed during a shootout with police in Barangay Sta. Cruz, Cebu City last Saturday night.

Police are yet to identify the suspect, who earlier tried to escape from the authorities by boarding a motorcycle which was stopped at a red light.

In an interview with The Freeman, SPO2 Leopoldo Bauzon of the Theft and Robbery Section (TRS) narrated that he was onboard the TRS service vehicle while patrolling the city with their chief, Senior Insp. Elisandro Quijano, when they stopped for the red light near the City Central School.

Just then, a driver of a passenger jeepney informed them about two armed men who just disembarked from his vehicle and headed towards P. Del Rosario St.

According to the driver, the two men boarded his jeepney near midtown but did not take the seats and just clung the vehicle's stepboard.

"Didto ra sila sa stepboard, wala sila manulis. Igo ra g'yud nila gihimong pang-eskapo ang PUJ. Gikan na 'to sila nanulis," Bauzon said.

The TRS police proceeded to the area and looked for the suspects until R. Landon St., but could not be located.

Investigation showed that at this point, the two men actually separated ways and one of them, who was armed with the gun, got on the motorcycle of Dariel John Cadenas, 24.

Cadenas, who works as a messenger and a resident of Mountain Breeze Subdivision in Barangay Tisa, was driving a red Honda motorcycle and was then stopping for the red light.

"Iyang gisakyan ang motor unya iyang gitiunan sa kilid ang biktima. Iya dayon giingnan na 'sunda ko'" Bauzon further narrated.

Cadenas told the police that the suspect directed him to drive towards Imus Road.

Luckily, the victim noticed policemen conducting a checkpoint so he decided to intentionally bump his motorcycle on the pavement in order to catch their attention.

He immediately informed them that he was robbed while the suspect, in order to elude arrest, jumped to the nearby bridge.

A brief chase then followed and in the process, the suspect reportedly shot once at the police but missed.

Senior Insp. Ardoelito Cabagnot and PO3 Alex Buanghog of Pari-an Police Station prompted to return fire and hit the suspect in the different parts of his body.

The exchange of gunfire happened in Osmeña Boulevard corner P. Del Rosario St. at 6:45 pm.

Recovered from the scene were the suspect's 9mm pistol, magazine, live bullets, four empty shells of cal. 9mm and 45 pistols.

The suspect's remains now lie at St. Francis Memorial Homes. The man, estimated to be about 20 to 30 years old, wore a blue shirt, brown maong pants, and slippers. — (FREEMAN)