Another gunfight in talisay: 3 more dead in shootout

CEBU, Philippines — The bloody war against drugs took three more lives in Barangay Maghaway, Talisay City yesterday afternoon.

The latest incident came only a day after three drug personalities, who were accused of shooting a policeman, died in a hot pursuit operation by the police in Barangay Lawaan 3, Talisay City.

The fatalities were identified as Susano “Sano” Labrador, Vincent Ceballos and Warlito “Waling” Tecson, who are allegedly notorious personalities in the area.

"Puro hardcore iyan sa Maghaway... even their families condemn them doon sa area.  Kanina  marami nagpasalamat na tao doon," said Talisay City Police Station Chief Marlu Conag.

Conag said the three are newly identified drug personalities but are considered bigtime drug suppliers in Talisay City due to the volume of drugs they can dispose.

Based on police investigation, Labrador has been implicated in two murder cases, including the killing of a councilor.

Conag said Labrador is reported to control illegal gambling activities in the barangay and is considered one of the most dreaded persons in the area. He also said Labrador allegedly raped women whose husbands work far.

Labrador reportedly is the uncle of Felix Abacahan, a high-value target in the region.

Ceballos is allegedly the group’s drug disposer, who reportedly has been threatening residents who might give info to the police.

Tecson reportedly was also a drug disposer.

The group’s leader, Ariel “Ladoy” Olivar, who is at large, is reportedly a known bigtime pusher in Talisay City.

Olivar is reportedly the upline of Cheryl Herongay, who was arrested for alleged possession of drugs worth P9 million early this month.

Conag added that Labrador and Olivar are the ones who would hire hitmen from Barangay Duljo Fatima, Cebu City to liquidate Talisay police officers and members of the Regional Mobile Force assigned in Tangke, Talisay due to the authorities’ relentless campaign against illegal drugs.

Conag also said Jackson Segundino, who is still at large, is the group’s hitman and is the city’s Top 5 most wanted person.  He has two outstanding warrants of arrest for murder.

Operations

At about 3:05 p.m. yesterday, operatives from the Talisay City Police Station and the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) hatched a buy-bust operation at Sitio Maghaway Proper.

Based on their initial report, an undercover cop transacted with the three drug personalities.

During the transaction, the suspects noticed they are transacting with a cop and drew their firearms.

An exchange of gunfire ensued for a brief moment between the drug personalities and the backup cops who were in the perimeter.

The gun battle resulted in the death of the three alleged drug personalities.  No one was hurt nor died from the side of the authorities.

RSOG-7 Chief Jason Villamater confirmed to The FREEMAN that the suspects have pending warrants for murder and drugs, and are involved in gun-for-hire activities.

He also said that the three are based in Talisay City but also distributes drugs even outside the city.

Conag also said that drugs and five unidentified caliber of firearms were recovered from the three.

As of press time, the Scene of the Crime Operatives are still conducting inventory of evidence recovered from the area.

Just last Friday three suspects, who shot PO1 Jaylord Taping while conducting surveillance in Barangay Tabunok, were killed in a follow-up operation in Lawaan 3, Talisay City.

They were identified as, Ramonito Manja alias Duterte, Arnel Hernane alias Alvin and a certain Joseph alias Odu.

Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 Director Debold Sinas had said that since they concentrated their illegal drug operations in Barangay Tangke since July, drug personalities have jumped to nearby barangays.

"Ang assessment namo namalhin sila, from our focus area ng Tangke, namalhin sila sa mga dug-ol lang ang operation karon nag branch out na lain nga lugar,” Sinas said in a previous report.

Drugs seized

Meanwhile, the police seized P4.4 million worth of suspected shabu in two separate anti-illegal drug operations in the cities of Cebu and Talisay this week.

The first wave was initiated by the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) personnel in their 24-hour anti-illegal drug drive that started Thursday. The operation was called the Synchronized Enhanced Managing Police Operations (SEMPO) or One Time Big Time.

A total of 23 of the 25 planned buy-bust operations were conducted, which resulted to the arrest of 30 drug personalities, nine of them have pending warrants of arrest.

From the separate operations led by 11 police stations of CCPO, 202 small and 17 medium sachets of suspected shabu weighing 148.03 grams of shabu valued at P1.7 million were seized.

CCPO Director Royina Garma said the operations were hatched to track down personalities revealed by the previously arrested drug suspects.

On the other hand, the Talisay Police Station arrested two more personalities in a buy-bust operation in Sitio San Miguel, Barangay Linao, Talisay City.

The police identified the suspects as Jovanie Cabrilos, 28, the subject of the operation, and her alleged cohort, Shera Mae Abatayo, 27, from Barangay Lawaan Tres of the same city.

Conag said the names of the suspects arrested surfaced during their debriefing interviews with drug suspects previously arrested. — /GAN (FREEMAN)