Alleged communist rebel, arresting police officer die in Pasay gunfight

Stock photo / INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — An alleged communist rebel and a police officer died during a gun battle in Pasay City early Friday morning, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.

The rebel, according to the PNP’s Public Information Office (PIO), was the subject of an arrest warrant, which was being served by police officers when the shootout erupted.

The PNP-PIO said personnel from Masbate Police Provincial Office’s Provincial Mobile Force Company and members of the Pasay City Police were to serve the warrant of arrest on a certain Hubert Aplacador, who has outstanding murder charges.

But while the arrest order was being served, the alleged rebel reportedly resisted arrest and fired at two police officers, namely S/Sgt. Nikki Codera and Lt. Rogelio Walay – both sustaining gunshot wounds.

The police officers then managed to hit Aplacador, who died on the spot, the PNP-PIO said. The two wounded police personnel were brought to the San Juan de Dios Medical Center, but Codera was pronounced dead on arrival.

Further information from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) showed that both Codera and Walay were officers from the Masbate 2nd Provincial Mobile Force

NCRPO said the operation was conducted along P. Santos Street in Barangay 157 of Malibay, Pasay City. The arrest order against Aplacador meanwhile was issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 49, in Cataingan, Masbate.

NCRPO added that Walay is now in stable condition.

Additional details from NCRPO also revealed that the murder charge against Aplacador was for the killing of a barangay police in Barangay Magsaysay of Esperanza town in Masbate last September 2021.

After killing the victim, police reports say Aplacador and his five other companions armed with long firearms escaped to the mountainous area of Barangay Masbaranon — which is believed to be where communist rebels camp out.

PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. said the death of Codera shows the risk faced by police officers in performing their duties, especially when suspects resort to violence.

“Our police personnel tried to serve the warrant peacefully, but the suspect was armed and was violent. Thus, the operating groups had to defend themselves,” he said.

NCRPO director Maj. Gen. Felipe Natividad on the other hand said they are mourning over the death of Codera.

“We mourn over the death of a brave police officer who was shot by an armed suspect during a law enforcement operation. It is very unfortunate that the police operation intended to arrest a wanted person accused of murder has resulted in a bloody shootout,” Natividad added.

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