‘Cop killer’ shot dead

CEBU, Philippines - The man held responsible for killing a policeman and wounding three others in Bohol Thursday was killed in a shootout with policemen at a checkpoint in Barangay Tabajan, Guindulman town, Bohol, past 9 p.m. Saturday night.

Artemio Tare Jr. was killed instantly after he was hit in the head in the shootout that ensued after he allegedly opened fire and shot at two policemen in a bus.

Police Officer 2 Aldrin Asielo, desk officer, told The FREEMAN that the Bohol Provincial Police Office launched a synchronized checkpoint all over Bohol after Thursday’s shooting and Guindulman police conducted a checkpoint in Barangay Tabajan.

A passenger bus was asked to stop at the checkpoint and PO1s Joel Bayron and Jeremias Platino checked the passengers.

When they reached near the end of the bus they saw the suspect who was wearing a ball cap to hide his face. Platino asked the suspect to show them his face but instead of complying he suddenly shot the two policemen, hitting Platino in the abdomen and Bayron in the leg.

However, Platino was able to grab the suspect and struggled for the .357 cal. revolver the suspect was holding.

“Nag-inilogay sila sa sulod sa bus, nakuha ang armas sa suspect,” said Asielo.

Other policemen outside heard the gunshots and quickly boarded the bus, upon seeing Platino struggling with the suspect they saw no choice but to shoot the suspect several times. The suspect died instantaneously after suffering gunshot wounds to the head.

No one of the bus passengers were hurt in the incident, some of them fled as the commotion was going on while others were too shocked to react.

“Ang uban nakagawas, ang uban naa ra sa sulod, nanghupo. Dalia ra, sir, wa gyud mag-expect nga ingon ato ang mahitabo. Pasalamat gyud mi sa Ginoo nga walay sibilyan nga napagan,” Asielo said.

The bus was coming from Tagbilaran City bound for Ubay town in Bohol when it came upon the checkpoint.

Aside from the revolver used by the suspect, police also recovered a .45 cal. pistol with seven live rounds tucked into his pants and another .357 cal. revolver with one live round in a bag he carried.

Police also recovered a small sachet of suspected shabu inside the bag and a fake Regional Intelligence Division ID designating Tare as an intelligence agent. They also found a professional driver’s license, an alumni ID, a SIM card and P470 cash.

Tare was declared dead by Dr. Winefredo Liao, Municipal Health Officer of Guindulman.

Platino and Bayron were brought to a hospital and are now out of danger. Platino had to undergo surgery to remove the slug inside his stomach while Bayron is set to be discharged from the hospital after it was found he was just grazed in the leg.

Tare is held responsible for the death of Police Officer 1 Michael June Ejoc who he allegedly shot in the head and neck. Police Officer 3 Judito Jasmin, Police Officer 1 Carlito Gamalo are now in safe condition while Police Officer 1 Reynan Tagotongan is said to be stable following a major operation but is still in the Intensive Care Unit.

They were shot by Tare Thursday morning in Poblacion, Tagbilaran City, after they responded to a report that several men were seen using drugs.

The suspect was seen fleeing on a motorcycle after the incident and has been hiding ever since. There are rumors that the suspect is tied to organized crime, but police could not yet verify this. —/BRP (FREEMAN)