Rape suspect killed in shootout with ComVal cops

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, Philippines — A laborer accused of molesting four teenage girls was shot dead by police in Nabunturan, Compostela Valley, police on Sunday said.

Jesus Banga Jr., 24, married, died from a gunshot wound to the chest after shooting it out with lawmen who attempted to arrest him near his residence in Purok 15, Poblacion village on Friday, Senior Superintendent Camilo Cascolan, Compostela Valley police chief, said.

The shooting happened as Banga was lured by authorities into meeting again one of the supposed victims around 4 p.m.

The victims — aged 15, 17 and 18 — appeared before Nabunturan police station on Friday and reported they were molested by the suspect at gunpoint at a grassy portion of Purok 15 around 3 a.m. that day.

One of the victims was also robbed of her cellular phone.

It was not immediately known what the alleged victims were doing in the area when the alleged rapes happened.

Cascolan said one of the victims, accompanied by undercover policemen led by Chief Inspector Julius Borja, Nabunturan police chief, agreed to meet Banga at the designated area around 2 p.m.

The suspect arrived two hours later armed with a cal. 38 revolver and a bolo tucked in his waist. But he suddenly ran away as one of the policemen was about to arrest him, firing in the direction of the lawmen, almost hitting the town police chief.

Cascolan said lawmen returned fire, hitting the suspect in the chest. He was killed instantly.

Police recovered the slain suspect’s alleged weapon loaded with four live bullets and a fired cartridge, and the cell phone of one of the supposed victims.