Sun.Star: Cebu cop shot dead hours after receiving award

CEBU CITY -- Just hours after he was awarded for being part of the team that arrested one of Cebu’s most wanted persons, a rookie policeman was shot dead in an operation Monday afternoon. PO1 Noriel Luage died of a gunshot wound. The bullet pierced his left cheek. He was taken to Chong Hua Hospital but died minutes later. He was allegedly shot by Ramon “Boy" Baclohan, 54, in Sitio Sab-a, Barangay Zapatera Cebu City about 2:30 p.m. Baclohan was also shot dead by SPO2 Delfin Bontuyan, who was with Luage when they entered the suspect’s house. Baclohan was the subject of a search warrant that a joint team from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7 and the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau (CIIB) were planning to serve. Baclohan, according to CIDG 7’s Chief Inspector Rex Derilo, is suspected of being involved in several murder cases in Cebu and that they applied for a search warrant to find evidence that would strengthen their case against him. One of these cases was the murder of a Japanese man in Mandaue City. Derilo did not identify the Japanese but said the operation was leading them “in the right direction." Cebu City Police Office Director Patrocinio Comendador said they received reports Baclohan served as a broker in a gun-for-hire business. He said the objective of the operation was to recover evidence, especially firearms, which would link Baclohan to some murder cases in Metro Cebu. Follow-up Comendador described the operation as a “follow-up" to the arrest of Aristotle Aves, who has been tagged responsible for several fraternity-related killings. Aves has been identified as a member of Alpha Kappa Rho, whose members have figured in many violent skirmishes with rival fraternity Tau Gamma Phi. There were reports that Aves was a gun-for-hire and sometimes hid in Baclohan’s house. The police team planned a simultaneous raid against Baclohan and brothers Ivan and Xyron Pineda a few houses away. The Pinedas were not around and no contraband was seized. The police officers’ attention was focused on Baclohan’s house after gunshots rang out. Bontuyan, a CIDG 7 operative, said he had no choice but to shoot Baclohan dead because the suspect was very aggressive. Even if Bontuyan’s hand was gripped around the gun’s muzzle, Baclohan reportedly continued to fire, with two to three bullets missing Bontuyan’s stomach by inches. Bontuyan and Luage went to the area first to look for Baclohan. Bontuyan said he talked with Baclohan’s wife Criselda and asked if he was home. She went back inside and returned to ask who was looking for Baclohan. When Bontuyan replied “police," Criselda then allegedly said Baclohan was out. Bontuyan said, though, that he saw feet running behind the door and the light inside was suddenly switched off. At this, he and Luage entered the house with their firearms out. “I told Luage to be careful because I was sure I saw someone inside," Bontuyan narrated. Bontuyan entered the house first, with Luage following close by. As Luage looked for a light switch on the wall, Baclohan allegedly fired. Dark Bontuyan said Luage immediately fell. He ran to a room inside the house. Baclohan allegedly thrust his arm inside the room and fired. “It was so dark that I could only see sparks from the gun," Bontuyan said. Comendador said it is unfortunate Luage died in the operation. Earlier in the day, Luage received a medal of merit for being part of the team that arrested Aves last December 3. “It is sad that it happened this way but we cannot anticipate the situation. He (Luage) was very courageous. He was one of those who first entered the premises," he told reporters outside the crime scene. But he said the incident shows that the CCPO is “determined" to go after those responsible for the series of killings in the city. City Councilor Augustus Pe said the City will help in the hospital bills as well as provide financial and burial assistance to Luage’s family. Surprised Zapatera Barangay Captain Frank Benedicto said he was surprised that Baclohan was linked to illegal activities. “I can vouch for him. For 13 years as barangay captain, I have not heard of any derogatory remarks about him. He did not cause trouble here," he told reporters. Baclohan reportedly hailed from Barugo, Leyte. After the Scene of the Crime Operations swept the area, the CIDG 7 operatives served the warrant and searched the house for guns. They seized five revolvers (three .38 revolvers, one .357 believed to be the one Baclohan used and a .22), Army fatigues, a pair of nunchucks and a bolo. These were taken to the CIDG 7 for disposition. - Sun.Star