By EUGENE ADIONG
BACOLOD City — Three alleged robbers were killed while a policeman was seriously injured in a gunfight between armed men and the police in Hacienda Banilad, Brgy. Nangka, EB Magalona town, yesterday.
One of those killed, Andy Esqueran, was a suspected member of an organized robbery group in northern Negros Occidental, said Senior Insp. Conrado Rances, EB Magalona police chief.
The other two fatalities remained unidentified as of press time.
PO1 Alfie Bungo of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office–Special Operations Group (NOPPO–SOG), who sustained gunshot wounds in the back and thigh, was rushed to a hospital here, Rances said.
The encounter happened at about 5:30 a.m. yesterday.
“Late evening on Tuesday, we received information that about eight armed men were hiding in a sugarcane field near a rock-crushing plant, about a kilometer away from the highway,” at the hacienda, Rances said.
He said the NOPPO–SOG, led by Senior Insp. Gideon Montano, and the EB Magalona police immediately went to the area.
“However, as the policemen were searching the field, one of the suspects fired at them, prompting them to fire back,” he said.
There was a brief exchange of gunfire. The policemen then saw the three fatalities lying on the ground while their companions flee.
Ranches said Esqueran had a warrant of arrest for homicide issued against him in 2011.
NOPPO’s Scene of the Crime Operatives recovered two homemade shotguns and two 9mm pistols from the encounter site./PN
