3 cops dead in shootout with crime gang in Samar

Map of Samar. INQUIRER FILES

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Philippines — Authorities are hunting down the leader and two members of a criminal group in Samar after three policemen were killed and four others were wounded in a gunfight during the service of arrest warrants on the group on Tuesday morning.

Police said Edito Ampoan, leader of the Ampoan Group, and his men, Jojo Altarejos and Rogelio Macurol, evaded arrest after a shootout with lawmen who conducted simultaneous raids in Barangay Mahayag, a remote village located 15 kilometers from the town center of Sta. Rita in Samar, at 5 a.m.

Ampoan and his police opened fire during the operation, resulting in the deaths of three police—Police Staff Sgt. Christian Tallo and Police Cpl. Eliazar Estrelles Jr., both of the 1st Samar Provincial Mobile Force Company and Police Master Sgt. Paul Terence Paclibar of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 8—during the exchange of gunfire.

The four wounded police were reported to be in stable condition. They were identified as Police Cpl. Mark Jason Sixta, Police Cpl. Rannel Pedamato, Police Patrol Ham Kritnere Capalis and Police Patrol Mark Redoblado.

A pursuit operation against Ampoan, Altarejos and Macurol continued, Philippine National Police spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said on Wednesday.

“We are checking nearby barangays, and we have set up checkpoints and border control,” she said.

Gun-for-hire

Fajardo said the police had long been after the three suspects, who were allegedly engaged in gun-for-hire and criminal activities.

“They have eight warrants of arrest for murder and frustrated murder for their involvement in killings in Samar,” she said.

The group, which is operating in Sta. Margarita and nearby towns are also allegedly involved in the extortion of businessmen in the province.

Ampoan, Altarejos and Macurol were subjects of arrest warrants for their alleged involvement in the murder of barangay chair Tiburcio Ocong of Bislig, Gandara town, also in Samar, on Oct. 23, 2015.

Police Maj. Marjorie Manuta, spokesperson for the Eastern Visayas regional police, said while the police suffered casualties, the law enforcers managed to arrest seven members of the crime group. Recovered from them were an M-16 rifle, a .45-caliber pistol and bullets.

Police Col. Peter Limbauan, Samar police director, vowed to find and arrest those behind the killings of his police.

“Our relentless effort to go after lawless elements may take down the lives of good police officers, but remember, there will be more police officers in Samar,” he said.