2 cops shot dead

CEBU, Philippines - Two policemen were shot dead by an unidentified assailant while four arrested persons escaped during the resulting commotion when police went to serve a warrant of arrest past 8 p.m. Friday in a suspected drug den in Barangay Tomonoy, Moalboal town.

Police Officer 3 Fabio Fernandez, who is due to retire next year and Police Officer 1 Alrasid Jimlani, both intelligence operatives, were declared dead on arrival at the Badian District Hospital after being shot by an assailant while securing the perimeter of the drug den.

Inspector Edgar Labe, Moalboal Police Station chief, said around 7 p.m. on Friday he and six other policemen went to Barangay Tomonoy to serve a search warrant to the residence of a certain Michael Aquino.

The search warrant was issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 60 Presiding Judge Leopoldo Cañete in Barili, Cebu.

Labe said that when they arrived at the house Aquino sensed them and was able to escape but they arrested four men in the act of using suspected drugs. They were Phil John Ediza and Rolly Tabanao of Poblacion East, Allen Amad of Tomonoy and another identified person from Alegria town.

Labe said that the four were handcuffed and he ordered one of his men to fetch a barangay official to witness the inventory of the evidence reco-vered.  The police recovered 19 small packs of suspected shabu, a .45 cal. pistol, a .357 revolver, three cellular phones and P5,008 cash in different denominations.

The Tomonoy barangay captain and a councilman arrived at the scene and Labe immediately instructed Fernandez, Jimlani and PO1 Niño Ridaza to secure the perimeter. Labe said specifically ordered them to prevent people from approaching the drug den.

Several men on motorcycles came but they turned back after seeing policemen in the area. Several minutes later another motorcycle came towards Fernandez, Ridaza said he saw Fernandez getting the license of the driver.

Thinking that Fernandez could manage it alone, he went to help rescue a patrol car that got stuck in the mud some distance away. He then heard several gunshots and thought they were warning shots.

He then saw two motorcycles suddenly leaving the area. He immediately rushed to the crime scene and saw Fernandez and Jimlani lying on the ground. Ridaza believes that Jimlani tried to take cover but was shot.

“Wa ko katuo bitaw. Wa ko kasa-bot sa akong gibati. Abi nako binuang ra. Gatulo akong luha gatan-aw sa ilang duha gadugo. Sakit kaayo,” he said.

Labe said he heard the gunshots and saw Fernandez and Jimlani fall to the ground and saw the motorcycle leaving. He rushed to the area where he heard his men shouting at him to get down.

A driver’s license was recovered from the crime scene but Moalboal police are still verifying if it belonged to the assailant. 

Fernandez and Jimlani were brought to the Badian District Hospital but were declared dead on arrival.

During the commotion the arrested persons managed to escape.

Labe said he immediately coordinated with the provincial headquarters for immediate assistance and the Provincial Public Safety Company and the provincial Special Weapons and Tactics were deployed to the area.

Investigators found five empty .45 cal. shells where the two policemen were shot. The service firearm of Fernandez was also missing.

Fernandez’ body was brought by his family to Danao City for an autopsy while Jimlani’s body was brought to Carcar City.   

Beloved family, friends, colleagues

Jimlani’s father, Socarno, 59, said that it has been his son’s dream to become a policeman since he was a child in Jolo, Sulu.

Jimlani is the second to the youngest of Socarno’s four children. He described Jimlani as a responsible and kind-hearted individual who was happy with his job as a law enforcer.

Jimlani, who died at the age of 29, had a three-year-old child with his live-in partner who is also pregnant with their second child.

Socarno said that his son dropped by at his house Friday noon, letting him know about the police operation that night.

Socarno said he leaves the fate of his son to the Creator and has to accept that he lost a son who died while fulfilling his dream job.

Jimlani was laid to rest at the Moalboal cemetery yesterday afternoon.  Ridaza said that both Jimlani and Fernandez are model cops who inspired him and other policemen to work better.

Ridaza and Jimlani have been close since college. Ridaza described Jimlani as a decent cop, a good friend, a humble person and a loving father to his family.

“Before pa ato, nagsikhanay pa mi ni Jimlani. In-ana mi mag-bonding. Kami gyud kauban sa mga kabuang,” he said. —/BRP (FREEMAN)