Cordova shootout: Murder suspect killed by police

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A man identified by police as the suspected gunman in the fatal shooting of a 28-year-old victim in Cordova, Cebu, last month was killed after allegedly opening fire on responding police officers during an armed encounter late Wednesday evening, August 5.

The 31-year-old suspect, identified as alias “Balot,” sustained gunshot wounds during the encounter and was rushed to Mactan Doctors’ Hospital in Lapu-Lapu City, where he later died while undergoing treatment.

According to Cordova Municipal Police Station, the suspect was also identified as the suspected gunman in the fatal shooting of alias “Jojo” in Sitio Bankal, Barangay Ibabao, Cordova, last July 12.

Police said a murder complaint had already been filed against the suspect before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in connection with that case.

Armed person alarm

According to the police report, the shootout began at around 11:20 p.m. on August 5 after the police received a report from a concerned citizen about an armed man in Sitio Tomoy, Barangay Ibabao.

The caller described the suspect as wearing a black sleeveless shirt and dirty white shorts.

Responding officers, along with personnel from the station’s Drug Enforcement Unit and Intelligence Unit, immediately responded to the area.

Suspect allegedly fired first

Police said that at around 11:30 p.m., responding officers spotted a man matching the description provided by the caller.

However, when the suspect noticed the approaching officers, he allegedly ran into a small abandoned house in a grassy interior area.

Authorities said the suspect then allegedly fired at the responding officers using an undetermined-caliber revolver.

Police said the responding officers returned fire, hitting and wounding the suspect.

Responders from Cordova Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) were immediately called to the scene and transported the suspect to Mactan Doctors’ Hospital for emergency treatment.

Authorities later confirmed that he succumbed to his injuries.

Firearm, suspected shabu recovered

Personnel from the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) of the Regional Forensic Unit-7 arrived at the scene shortly after midnight to process the crime scene.

Police said investigators recovered an undetermined-caliber revolver containing four rounds of ammunition.

Authorities also recovered two packets containing suspected shabu weighing about six grams, along with drug paraphernalia.

The recovered items were turned over to SOCO for proper documentation and disposition.

Police said the crime scene was cleared at around 1:30 a.m. on Aug. 6 after investigators completed the processing of the evidence.

Authorities have yet to announce whether additional charges related to the alleged armed encounter and the suspected illegal drugs recovered at the scene will still be pursued following the suspect’s death.

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