by Miriam G. Desacada
Tacloban City- A suspected member of Wahingon Criminal Gang and an alleged gun-for-hire in the province of Samar was killed, another two policemen wounded and a civilian during a police entrapment operation against illegal sale of loose firearms at about 2:30 in the morning on Saturday ( January 11) at Pido Extension of Barangay Awang in Calbayog City.
Killed in the operation was the suspect identified as Ricardo Dealagdon alias ” Ricky” who is also known as Edgar Nayangga, ” Edgar/Nap.
Initial police report also said that five suspects were arrested in a shootout that ensued during the said operation, however no names of those arrested suspects, wounded policemen and a civilia were obtained as of this writing.
The joint teams of police operatives, responding to an informant’s cue, used a poseur buyer in the transaction laid out for the entrapment. The deal was consummated when the poseur buyer was able to buy from the suspect a KG9 sub-machine gun, worth P22,000, prompting the operatives to quickly come out of hiding and immediately collared the suspect.
However, there were other suspects who, upon seeing Dealagdon arrested, ran to his house and positioned themselves there where they fired shots at the operatives, but it resulted in the wounding of a civilian or passerby.
The operatives quickly extracted the wounded civilian from the scene to safety and given medical intervention, while the other operatives defended their position by returning fire to the suspects. The shootout continued, and two of the operatives already got hit in their hands, and were rushed to the Calbayog City District Hospital for treatment.
As the exchange of gunfires heightened, Dealagdon, who was in custody of the operatives, also got hit and wounded in various parts of his body. He too was rushed to the same hospital for immediate attention. But was pronounce dead on arrival.He was the fourth casualty in the shootout.
When the shootout came to an end, the operatives were able to arrest the five suspects, or companions of Dealagdon, who fought it out with the authorities earlier. They were eventually hauled to the Calbayog City Police Station (CCPS) for proper disposition.
The joint teams of operatives and their respective leaders were the lead unit PIU/PDEU headed by P/Lt.Col. J-Rale Paalisbo, CCPS led by P/Lt. Col. Denvir Revita, 1st SPMFC led by P/Lt. Col. Norman Kiat-Ong, 3rd SAB of SAF led by P/Capt. Mark Joven Laylo, 35 SAC of SAF led by P/Capt. Israel Neil Mani, and PIT Samar RIU8 led by P/Lt. Del Cornejo.
Meanwhile, in a Press Statement Samar police provinvial director Col.Antonietto Eric Mendoza assured that the operation was legitimate as approved with protocols in place.
” I would like to personally assure the public that the operation carried was legitimate and approved by my office. Our law enforcement teams followed all necessary protocols in carrying out this operations, Col. Mendoza added. — Miriam G.Desacada