6 wounded in police misencounter in CDO

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Six persons, including two police officers, were wounded when law enforcers exchanged gunfire during a mis-encounter in Barangay Puerto, this city, on Thursday night, May 30, police said Friday.

The Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO) identified those wounded as Jaymar Canencia, 29; Mary Ann Ordaña, 27. Darlene Vim Eduave, 12; Enelita Salina, 45; Police Master Sergeant Jose Ryan Sevilleno, who is assigned at COCPO; and Police Staff Sergeant Arman Tagolimot, who is under the Misamis Oriental Provincial Police Office.

All persons were declared out of danger as they suffered only minor injuries, said Lt. Col. Mardy Hortillosa, COCPO spokesperson.

The COCPO report said the incident happened while Tagolimot was conducting surveillance on a certain Jojo Rosales, who was wanted for murder, in Purok 6, Barangay Puerto.

The report added Rosales must have noticed he was being followed by a policeman prompting the suspect to draw his .38 caliber pistol and shot at Tagolimot.

Rosales’ gun misfired giving Tagolimot the chance to return fire.

Sevilleno, who was in the area, mistook Tagolimot as an armed suspect and fired at him.

The four civilians were hit during the gunfire but their wounds were not serious, Hortillosa said.

Lt. Col. Reynante Reyes, COCPO officer-in-charge, said they were investigating the incident and assured assistance to those wounded.

The Police Regional Office in Northern Mindanao also said it would conduct a probe on the incident to “ferret out factual details which will serve as the basis for future administrative actions.” (Editor: Leti Z. Boniol)