‘Drug lord hitman’ killed in the south

CEBU, Philippines — A man who is in the province’s most wanted list and said to be a drug lord’s hitman was killed during implementation of a warrant of arrest against him on Saturday dawn in Malabuyoc town, about 140 kilometers away from Cebu City.

Police identified the fatality as Emerito Cardente, 53, resident of Barangay Tomonoy, Moalboal town, who has been allegedly in hiding since 2014.

The operation was conducted at the mountainous Sitio Libo in Barangay Sardenya, Malabuyoc, where the suspect was reported to have been sighted.

After receiving a report regarding the suspect’s presence in the area, operatives of Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB), Provincial Public Safety Company (PPSC), Moalboal police, Malabuyoc police, and Ronda police went to serve the warrant of arrest against Cardente.

Cardente was the suspect in the killing of two police officers – Police Officer 3 Fabio Fernandez and Police Officer 1 Almasid Jimlani – during a police operation against his son Micheal Cardente last November 14, 2014 in Moalboal.

During that operation, Micheal eluded arrest, but was later killed in another police operation in September 2016.

According to PIB chief Police Superintendent Joie Pacito Yape, Cardente was also the suspect in the killing of a pregnant woman in Moalboal identified as Susan Mortal. He was believed to have killed Mortal over suspicions she divulged his son’s whereabouts to the operatives.

When the police team identified themselves during the operation last Saturday, Cardente allegedly initiated a firefight with them, prompting the team to neutralize the former.

Cardente was brought to the nearest hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Senior Superintendent Edgar Alan Okubo said that Police Officer 2 Ronel Quinain of Moalboal police was hit during the firefight, but he was fortunately saved by his armored vest.

Among the evidence recovered from the suspect were an improvised rifle believed to be bulleted with marbles, one caliber .45 revolver with magazine and ammunition, and a binocular believed to be used by the suspect to check approaching law enforcers.

Yape said Cardente was allegedly employed as a hitman by Christian Aquino, who was a top high-value drug target in Central Visayas.

Christian was killed in a police operation in Mandaue City last May.

Yape said they received reports that Christian supported Cardente financially starting when the latter was being pursued by authorities. There were also reports that Christian consistently visited Cardente in his residence before he was killed.

Meanwhile, Police Chief Inspector Jose Rovic Villarin, chief of Moalboal police, said Cardente was also involved in illegal drug trade and in several shooting incidents in the town and other neighboring areas in southern Cebu.

Cardente was allegedly a member of a gun-for-hire group in Moalboal called “Cardentes.”

Okubo said the firearms recovered from Cardente will be subjected to ballistic examinations to determine if they have been used in other crimes, which will also help solve other cases of shooting incidents.

During the operation, a certain Roberto Palabon, 50, owner of the house where Cardente was hiding, was also injured after he allegedly blocked operatives from arresting the suspect.

Palabon suffered a gunshot wound in his right arm but is now recovering at a hospital in Cebu City.

Yape said that Palabon will face charges for obstruction of justice and harboring of criminals.

On the other hand, Okubo said that the death of Cardente will paralyze the remaining members of his gun-for-hire group. (FREEMAN)