3 killed, 2 cops sacked after anti-drug operation in Ormoc goes awry

At least three people were killed – two of them innocent civilians – after an anti-drug operation in Ormoc City in Leyte went awry Tuesday afternoon.

Two police officers involved in the operation were relieved as the sting operation led to a chase that triggered a stampede at a nearby cockfighting arena, radio dzBB reported Wednesday.

Reports from the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame identified the sacked police officers as Chief Inspector Edgardo Encina, chief of the city's Police Station 3 and his deputy, Senior Inspector Harris Rebato.

Rebato is concurrent head of the station's anti-narcotics unit. Eight other police officers who took part in the operation are also under investigation.

Killed in the operation was the suspected drug pusher initially identified as one Sem Serrano. However, two civilians were also killed – a doctor and a City Hall employee, the same radio report said.
 

Police identified the innocent victims as dentist Jay Movilla and government worker Alfredo Alberto. 

An initial investigation showed the sting operation was held in Barangay Tambulilid in Ormoc, but Serrano tried to resist arrest, triggering a chase.

The report said the chase led to a cockfighting arena and triggered a stampede there, injuring some of the spectators. 

Following the incident, two officials who headed the sting were relieved pending an investigation into possible lapses in the operation. — with Joel Locsin/RSJ, GMA News