Cop shot while apprehending suspected illegal loggers in Albay

LEGAZPI CITY — A policeman was wounded after he was shot by one of three suspects he was apprehending for transporting assorted illegally cut lumber in Tiwi town in Albay province before dawn Monday.

Police Officer 3 Christopher Cea, investigator on case of Tiwi police, said that while on intelligence operations, PO1 Daryl Castelo and PO2 Mark Anthony Remon approached the three motorcycle riders carrying at least 16 “naga” tree logs of assorted sizes in Barangay (village) Naga at around 12:30 a.m.

One of the suspects grabbed the service firearm of Castelo and shot him in the right hand, prompting Remon to retaliate, but the suspects immediately fled on foot, leaving the two motorcycle units and logs.

“The two grappled for the gun until it went off,” Cea said.

One of the suspects, Fernan Cornel — a resident of Barangay Calie, also in Tiwi — was arrested during the hot pursuit operation that followed the incident.

Cea said that upon interrogation, Cornel said that it was Ronaldo Francisco of Sitio (sub-village) Sto. Cristo in Barangay Calie who grabbed the cop’s firearm.

The policeman’s 9mm firearm is still in possession of Francisco, Cea added. Police are now hunting Francisco. JE/rga