Armed man shot dead in Archbishop’s Palace in Cebu City

An armed man who tried to enter the Archbishop's Palace in Cebu City was shot dead by police operatives.

Cebu City Police Office director Senior Superintendent Royina Garma confirmed this in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, saying they have already identified the suspect.

Based on the driver's license recovered from the crime scene, Chief Superintendent Debold Sinas, Police Regional Office 7 director, identified the man as Jeffrey Cañedo, 41,  who is from Barangay Labangon, Cebu City.

"Kasi itong area na to may chapel din kasi sa loob, anyone can come in yung mga parokyano...May nakakita na armadao kay tumawag na ng assistance ng pulis," Cebu City Police Station 2 Chief Inspector Maria Teresa Macatangay said in a separate interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

The body of an unidentified suspected gunman is seen at the parking lot of the Cebu Archbishop's Residence in Cebu City on Tuesday, July 10, 2018, after he was shot dead by police officers. The gunman reportedly was looking for Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma before the shootout. Photo courtesy: Councilor Dave Tumulak

"So nagresponde yung pulis natin nung nakita ng ating mobile patrol group, bumunot ito ng baril tsaka ayun na...naunahan na siya ng mga pulis," she added.

The suspect was said to have been looking for Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma before he was gunned down around 11:00 a.m.

"Allegedly according sa witness natin, hinahanap si Bishop so it is unusual so tumawag sila ng pulis at pagdating ng pulis, 'yon nagkaron ng engkwentro," Garma said.

According to Monsignor Joseph Tan, Cebu archdiocese spokesperson, Palma is in Manila attending the CBCP biennial conference.

"Archbishop Palma was not at the compound at the time of the incident. Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Dennis Villarojo was at the office," Tan said, adding that the incident transpired near the St. Joseph Chapel within the residential building. 

In an official statement, Tan said there was no prior threat to Palma.

"There is no prior threat to the Archbishop of Cebu. We call for prayer that peace may be restored," Tan said.

Cebu archdiocese’s statement on the shooting incident inside the Archbishop’s residence #CBCPNews pic.twitter.com/jcWIVdC35G

— CBCPNews (@cbcpnews) July 10, 2018

— with Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ/KBK, GMA News