Suspected cop killer slain in Pangasinan gun battle

DAGUPAN CITY—The prime suspect in the June 6 killing of a San Carlos City policeman and the wounding of another cop was killed in a shootout Thursday night (Sept. 14) in Urbiztondo town, Pangasinan province.

Danilo Fernandez died while being taken to a hospital while his companion, Jefferson Bulatao, was wounded.

Fernandez and Bulatao were in a car that was racing through Camambugan village at 3:50 p.m. when they were intercepted by a police team tasked to serve an arrest warrant against Fernandez.

Fernandez alighted from the car and shot at the policemen, triggering a firefight, said Chief Inspector Joshua Maximo, Urbiztondo police chief.

Fernandez was San Carlos City’s top most wanted person for the gun slaying of PO2 Jimbo Agtarap. Fernandez also wounded PO1 Rachael Cancino, the first police officer to respond to the attack on Agatarap.

Bulatao, meanwhile, was described as a newly identified drug pusher in Basista town. /jpv