Murder suspect, three others killed in shootout with police

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – A murder suspect and alleged leader of a criminal gang and three of his companions were killed in a shootout with policemen in Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental Sunday evening.

An initial police report identified the slain murder suspect as Michael Garsula of Barangay Malaunay in Valencia town of Negros Oriental.

Garsula was the supposed leader of a gang that the police have previously tagged as responsible for the murder of businessman Demeterio Larena III, who was shot dead along the highway at Sibulan, Negros Oriental on October 20, 2011.

The three others with Garsula remained unidentified as of press time Sunday although police recovered from one of them a voter’s identification card that bore the name of Bonifacio Catano, according to Chief Inspector George Badon, chief of the Sta. Catalina Police.

Badon said about ten police operatives and Philippine Army soldiers, comprising a composite group, flagged down the four men, who were riding motorcycles, at sitio Cambungao of Poblacion in Sta. Catalina around 8 p.m. Sunday.

The law enforcers were to serve court warrants of arrest against Garsula, but the latter and his group, upon learning they were police and military personnel, immediately turned around their motorcycles, dropped to the ground and opened fire at the authorities, Badon said.

A shootout followed, lasting for a few minutes, but resulting in the deaths of Garsula and his three companions.

The law enforcers recovered from Garsula and his companions a .45-caliber handgun, a .38-caliber revolver and an improvised shotgun, said Badon, adding that the bodies are now at a funeral parlor in Sta. Catalina, waiting to be claimed by the dead men's relatives.

Provincial Police director, Senior Superintendent Dionard Carlos, said the firearms will be submitted for ballistics tests and cross-matching to determine if these will match evidences, such as slugs and spent shells, recovered from previous criminal activities in the province.

Carlos said the police will look into the impact of Garsula’s death on the alleged crime group that he purportedly led.

Badon disclosed to The Freeman that Garsula was facing a number of arrest warrants, including the one issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 39 Judge Arlene Catherine Dato, for the murder of the 65-year-old Larena, an owner of a number of pawnshops.

Other suspects in Larena killing were identified as brothers Jimmy and Jerry Inocerta, who were also linked to a series of robbery incidents in San Jose town of Negros Oriental.

Garsula and Jimmy Inocerta were also facing a murder case for the death of a chief tanog in Malaunay, previous police reports said.

Another arrest warrant for murder was also issued against Garsula by Judge Eric Maxino, as well as other court orders for his arrest in relation to a frustrated murder and robbery cases. (FREEMAN)