BACOLOD City – Three people were killed while three others, including the daughter of a town mayor in Negros Occidental, were injured in a shootout in Purok Nami-Nami 1, Barangay Sum-ag, police said.
Friday afternoon’s gunfight in front of the Sum-ag National High School was between two robbery suspects – one the police identified only as “Inoy” and the other still unidentified – and the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO).
The two suspects were among the fatalities together with the 70-year-old Delfin Ortiz, a trisikad driver.
Police said a stray bullet hit Ortiz in the abdomen. He was rushed to the Bacolod South General Hospital in Barangay Tangub where he expired.
Among those hurt was Mikaela Malabor, the 15-year-old daughter of Isabela, Negros Occidental mayor Joselito Malabor. Mikaela is a Grade 9 student of Sum-ag National High School.
Also injured were bystanders Estrella Claridad and Walter Dojen.
The shootout was a result of a chase targeting Inoy and his companion who the police said were responsible for robbing a delivery van in Purok Mahiliugyon, Barangay Taloc, Bago City, Negros Occidental at around 4 p.m. on Friday.
The suspects – armed with two .38 guns – forced the 32-year-old sales agent Christopher Gupay of Barangay 7, Bacolod City to give them his P50,000 cash collection that day, according to an initial report from the Bago City police station.
It was later found out that van driver Ruben Hilado Coylo, 38, of Barangay Felisa, Bacolod City was an accomplice of the suspects.
Coylo admitted this after BCPO investigators discovered his text conversation with Inoy, plotting the robbery.
After taking the money, the suspects on board a motorcycle fled to Barangay Sum-ag.
At the time the Bago City police already alerted the BCPO. Some witnesses also tipped off the BCPO regarding the suspects’ movement.
The SWAT team members led by Senior Police Officer 3 Jeffrey Sellado were deployed to catch the suspects.
They chanced upon Inoy and the other suspect in a crowded area around 4:30 p.m.
The SWAT members said one of the suspects fired first, prompting them to retaliate.
An investigation to determine if the police officers violated the rules of engagement is ongoing.
Meanwhile, Malabor told Panay News yesterday that he wants a fair investigation into the shootout.
He added that he will request a Department of Justice investigation should he find the police probe findings unsatisfying.
Malabor’s daughter was currently recuperating at the Adventist Medical Center in Bacolod City. (With Archie Rey Alipalo/PN)
