Police, driver die in shootout

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines - A policeman and a driver were killed in a shootout involving an ex-convict in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental Monday afternoon, police said.

Police Officer 2 Rafael Gemoto succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds in a gunbattle with suspect Joy Voluntate at Coloso Extension in Brgy. 6 of Kabankalan, according to SPO1 Perfecto Larracas, chief investigator of the Kabankalan police.

Larracas said Gemoto was trailing Voluntate, who was riding in a tricycle, when the shootout happened.

He said Gemoto reportedly fired a warning shot for Voluntate to halt. Instead, the ex-convict opened fire at Gemoto, and this led to a brief shootout.

Noel Garcia, a tricycle driver, was reportedly caught in the crossfire and was also killed, said police investigators.

Kabankalan City Police chief, Supt. Calixto Mabugat, said Gemoto, an intelligence operative of the City Police, managed to return fire but Voluntate was able to escape.

Voluntate, tagged as the gunman in two previous shooting incidents, was believed to have been injured, Mabugat told The Freeman.

The police also linked him to the fatal shooting of Francisco Sibug, a member of the Bantay Bayan, and Rommel Torre, 17, on Sept. 15 and 17, also in Kabankalan City.

PNP Crime Laboratory personnel were dispatched to Kabankalan City to conduct an investigation of the incident. - THE FREEMAN