ILOILO City – The man who died in a shootout with policemen in Barangay Tabugon, Dingle, Iloilo on Sunday was a member of a new robbery group that operates randomly in central Iloilo province, police said.
“Their group started operating in the last few months of 2019. Umiikot sila gamit ang motor at kung sino makita nila na lumalakad sa daan at walang masyadong tao, doon sila mangho-hold-up. They usually operate early morning,” said former Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) director Police Colonel Roland Vilela.
The man who died was identified as 22-year-old Dominic Fresas of Barangay Rizal Ilawod, Calinog, Iloilo.
The suspect’s brother Ronald came forward and identified him late Sunday night, according to Police Captain Fernando Punzalan, chief of the Dingle police station.
“The brother went to my office and made the identity confirmation. He did not comment on Fresas’ illegal activities,” said Punzalan.
Fresas died in an exchange of gunfire with Dingle policemen who were responding to a report that a woman as robbed in Barangay Tabugon.
Fresas had two other companions who managed to flee; they were identified as Rowen Lebuna and Jefftrey Vicente of Lamabunao, Iloilo.
Before he left the IPPO for a new assignment (as the Philippine police’s attaché to the United States), Vilela formed a tracker team to run after Lebuna and Vicente.
Hours prior to the holdup in Barangay Tabugon, Dingle on Sunday, Fresas and companions also robbed a woman in Barangay Camambugan, Dingle, and two other persons in Passi City and San Enrique town, according to Punzalan./PN
