Motorcycle rider escapes checkpoint, killed in shootout

CEBU, Philippines — A motorcycle rider who, along with his companion, allegedly tried to evade a checkpoint ended up getting killed in an ensuing shootout with police operatives Tuesday night along N. Bacalso Avenue in Cebu City.

Police Major Keith Andaya, Mobile Patrol Group chief, said they were conducting a checkpoint in the area at around 10 p.m. when they spotted two men riding a motorcycle allegedly making a U-turn and then speeding off.

MPG personnel chased the two men who were identified as a certain “Bata” and Jesus Miñoza.

Police cornered the suspects at a dead end in Sitio Larima, Barangay Mambaling but Andaya said “Bata” continued running to evade authorities.

“Puro na sila (suspects) naay pusil. Pagnaog, nangatumba na sila, nagkarambola, nidagan na si alyas Bata, then si Miñoza nadakpan na. Naay nakuha nga pusil ug kutsilyo sad sa bag,” Andaya told reporters.

In the middle of the commotion, some residents helped the police by chasing Bata, who allegedly attempted to use a ladder to jump to the other side but was eventually blocked by residents.

At this point, Bata allegedly returned where he came from, and when he met the policemen on his way back, he then allegedly fired at them. This resulted to the shootout that eventually killed Bata.

As to the background of the suspects, Andaya said that aside from working as “dispatchers,” police have yet to check if they have prior criminal records.

Apart from the unlicensed firerams and two knives, police also recovered three fake identification cards from the suspects’ possession. They also found an empty sack from Bata’s motorcycle, which led police to theorize that they may be robbers.

Andaya said that the two may have tried to avoid the checkpoint due to the fear of being arrested because of their weapons.

“Wala man sad tay nakita nga drugs or mga paraphernalia,” he added.

Police will conduct further investigation to check if the two are indeed robbers since the arrested suspect, Miñoza, seemed “not clear” or incoherent with his statements, according to Andaya.

Miñoza is now detained at the Mambaling Police Station.  JMD (FREEMAN)