Policeman injured in shootout

A suspected drug pusher was killed while a police officer was seriously injured during two shootouts after midnight yesterday in Novaliches, Quezon City.

Suspect Camid Macarimbor, a resident of 184 Sarmiento St., Barangay Sta. Monica, suffered multiple bullet wounds in the body and died on the spot. He and his still unidentified cohorts are said to be notorious drug pushers in the area.

Police Inspector Leo Escat, deputy chief of the Novaliches Mobile Patrol Unit, sustained gunshot wounds on the arm and body and is currently confined at a still undisclosed hospital.

Authorities are now hunting Macarimbor’s cohorts, who engaged in a shootout with policemen at about 12:50 a.m. near the suspect’s home in Barangay Sta. Monica. Macarimbor was killed after a second confrontation with cops a short while later.

Reports showed that operatives of the Novaliches Police Station were patrolling the area on board a mobile car when they came across a group of armed men walking along the said area. Macarimbor was said to be one of the men.

Investigators involved in the incident claimed that the suspects suddenly opened fire on them, triggering a shootout. The cops called for back-up and Escat, who was driving the mobile vehicle, tried to speed-off to avoid being hit. The gunmen, however, chased after the cops, prompting them to call for back-up while exchanging gunfire with the suspects. Escat was hit in the process. When help arrived, Macarimbor and his men fled the scene taking with them their firearms.

After the wounded policeman was brought to the hospital, investigators and members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) instantly conducted a follow-up operation which led them inside a squatter’s area also in Sta. Monica. When they reached the said place, they spotted Macarimbor and another shootout followed. The suspect was hit several times in the chest and shoulders and collapsed to the ground. He died instantly.