MANILA, Philippines — A policeman was killed while his colleague was wounded following a shootout with suspected criminal gang members Monday evening in Misamis Oriental.
According to a police report, personnel from the Misamis Oriental Police Provincial Office were conducting checkpoint operations at a national highway in Libertad, Misamis Oriental, when five armed men onboard a vehicle opened fire at them.
The suspected gang members wounded Police Staff Sergeant Ronald Caayupan and Police Chief Master Sergeant Fernando Maestrado during the encounter.
The police officers reportedly fired back killing one of the alleged gang members in the process. The slain suspect was identified as Jephone Fabriga Tinamisan, 33.
Caayupan was brought to the Initao Hospital where he later succumbed to serious gunshot wound. Maestrado was transferred to another hospital where he is now recuperating.
Recovered from the crime scene were four calibers .45 pistols, two KG 9, one .9-mm pistol, four hand grenades, and five sachets of suspected crystal meth or “shabu.”
Police authorities were also able to arrest one suspect at 6:50 a.m. on Tuesday, identified as Richard Son Perez, 31.
Perez is currently under the custody of the Libertad Municipal Police Station.