One of the most wanted men in Metro Manila as well as in the Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela (Camanava) area was killed after he shot it out with policemen who tried to serve a warrant for his arrest Tuesday morning.
Michael Ignacio, also known as “Bulag,” was shot by arresting officers of the Northern Police District (NPD) after he put up a fight in his house in Dagat-Dagatan, Caloocan City, according to Chief Insp. Romeo Ricalde Jr., head of the NPD special operations unit (DSOU).
The incident happened at 10:30 a.m. and involved dozens of operatives from the DSOU and the district anti-illegal drugs section who were all heavily armed and clad in bulletproof vests.
Ricalde said that when they went to Ignacio’s house in the densely populated Dagat-Dagatan area, they fully expected him to put up a fight.
“When the door opened, the suspect immediately shot at us,” he added. The police returned fire and hit Ignacio in the chest and abdomen.
He was then rushed to Tondo Medical Center where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival at 11:30 a.m.
A member of the arresting team identified only as PO1 Buensoceso was hit during the exchange of fire although he was not wounded as he was protected by his bulletproof vest.
Ricalde said that Ignacio was wanted for cases of robbery, murder, illegal drug possession and trading filed in Malabon courts, among others. The police also confirmed that they had received reports that Ignacio was working as a hired killer.
“We had been monitoring Ignacio for a long time as he [was] dangerous and he had been transferring residences in Caloocan, Malabon and Navotas,” he added.
Seized from Ignacio were two .45-caliber guns, a .38-caliber revolver and a .22-caliber pistol. He also had in his possession two grenades and at least seven sachets of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu.”
Ignacio’s wife, who was with him at the time of the incident, was arrested based on reports that she was involved in the drug trade in the area. The police have yet to identify her. With Marc Alejo and Gia Anne Villanueva