Man holds son hostage, shoots police in Talisay, Cebu

CEBU, Philippines —  A man held hostage his 6-year-old son while shooting it out with the police during a during a buy-bust operation in Sitio Bugna, Barangay Jaclupan, Talisay City on Thursday.

Patrolman Gilbert James Lusica, an operative from the Talisay City Police Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU), sustained a gunshot wound while pursuing the suspect, Efren “FF” Espina, 28, a resident in the area.

According to Police Lt. Colonel Gerard Ace Pelare, chief of Talisay City Police Station, the PDEU personnel were about to conduct a buy-bust operation at the suspect’s house at around 7 p.m.

“It’s just that the place is very difficult for the operatives kay pagsaka pa lang nila, makita na sila sa suspect. ( ) Bisag ngitngit na, murag nakamay-ong ang suspect na pulis ang paingon so iyang gipamusil na,” Pelare said.

In doing so, the suspect used his son as a shield preventing the officers to retaliate.

Espina went to the cliff at the back of his house leaving his son behind before jumping over.

Upon withdrawing, the suspect opened fire at the pursuing operatives hitting Lusica on his right arm.

The wounded officer was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital and is now in stable condition while the suspect’s son was also safe.

Though the firearm used by the suspect has not been confirmed yet, two medium packs of shabu weighing a total of 10 grams, with an estimated worth of P68,000, four live ammos, one fired cartridge case and a green pouch were recovered from the suspect’s house .

According to Pelare, Espina is one of the few remaining high-profile targets they have been working to arrest for a long time. He said the suspect, who does not always come to the area, is based both in Talisay and in Cebu City.

Talisay City police are currently conducting the hot pursuit on Espina who is now on the run and Lusica, despite being injured, even wants to join them in hunting down the suspect.

“We have teams already on the ground, we have coordinated with our neighboring units. Everyone is looking for him. We just hope that we’ll find a break and finally arrest the suspect but we will pour all the resources of government in order to make sure na madakpan gyud to sya,” Pelare said.

Illegal drugs have been a main problem in Talisay City, according to the chief and they are doing intensified measures in conducting the campaign against.

Pelare said that they can’t defeat the problem ultimately without the help of the community.

Through their OPLAN Limpyo Talisay, they were able to get the support of people by introducing new concepts like feeding programs, house-to-house visits and constructing communal toilets, etc.

“Ato silang gi-organize, now, when they see these initiatives, support was given to us. So mao na to motabang na sila og roving, mohatag na silag information dayun ang world sa mga criminals nagkagamay,” the chief said. — Brigida Gerzon, CNU Intern, GMR (FREEMAN)