Catmon shootout: Cult members await charges

CEBU, Philippines – Police are yet to file charges against the alleged founder and a cult member in Catmon believed to be involved in a shootout Wednesday evening that killed a police officer and wounded two other policemen.

 Police Officer 3 Ben Navales, investigator of Catmon Police Station, said they still need more evidence against Andrew “Kuya Manoy” Ocasla and Tomas Bracero.

Ocasla is the president of Pistalis Organization, a breakaway group of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association, while Bracero is a member of the organization.

They were arrested during a clearing operation following the shootout that killed PO2 Dionesio Jurbina and wounded SPO2 Rex Manchavez and PO2 Aaron Arizo.

Two members of Pistalis, Lito Gumolon, 53, of Lawaan, Talisay City, and a certain King Seroy Purgatorio Lusifer, 41, of Candabong, Argao, were also killed during the gun battle.

Navales said they need more evidence to link Ocasla and Bracero in the shootout. He said what they have against them is only evidence for illegal possession of explosive and illegal drugs.

According to Navales, they could not determine as of the moment their involvement in the shootout because they were arrested few meters away from the encounter site.

“Nitug-an ni nato sa atong interrogation nga siyam kuno sila pero wala pa ta kahibawo kung naa ba g’yud sila pagpinusilay,” Navales said.

Ocasla was arrested for alleged possession of hand grenade while Bracero was caught in possession of illegal drugs.

The members of Catmon Police Station responded to a call for armed person at Sitio Buyo, Barangay Nabongkalan, Catmon. The team Menchavez chanced upon the alleged armed person along the highway. Jurbina reportedly held one of the suspected armed persons but he was shot in the head.

A gun battle ensued resulting in the death of Gumolon and Lusifer and the wounding of Menchavez and Arizo.

Jurbina was rushed to Danao City Provincial Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival. —   /FPL (FREEMAN)