Barangay official denies harboring fugitive

A barangay official yesterday went to the Cebu City Police Office to clear himself from allegation that he harbored a wanted person who was shot dead in an encounter with police in barangay Pamutan, Cebu City.

Pamutan barangay councilman Lemente Rago said it was the first time in 10 years last Sunday that he and Rodrigo Labitad met.

Labitad was tagged as the most wanted person in Central Visayas. He was facing  multiple murder charges and had a P300,000 bounty on his head.

Labitad was drinking with Rago when PO3 Ray Philip Alcazar and PO2 Crisostomo Bayato arrived in sitio Bocawe to serve an arrest warrant against him.

Police said when Bayato introduced himself as a policeman, Labitad tried to flee.

Police said Labitad tried to shoot Alcazar but his gun jammed.

Alcazar fired back and hit Labitad in the chest.

Police said they recovered a .45 caliber pistol, four magazines with ammunition and a fragmentation grenade.

Rago said he and Labitad had not met since the suspect went in hiding in Davao.

Labitad was reportedly a former member of the New People’s Army and was charged with four counts of murder and attempted homicide.

Rago said during the  drinking the session, Labitad confided to him and his friends of his intention to surrender.

Chief  Insp. Bonifacio Graciano, chief of the Investigation and Detective Management Branch (IDMB), Rago’s claims will be investigated.

If proven guilty, Rago could be administratively and criminally charged./CORRESPONDENT CHITO O. ARAGON