CEBU CITY – An inmate tagged as the leader of a robbery group was killed several hours after he escaped from his police escorts here Thursday.
Police identified the escapee as Alwen Cereño, 32.
Cereno found a chance to escape while he was being transported back to the Mambaling Police Station after he was brought to the police molecular laboratory for a COVID-19 test.
Police conducted a manhunt operation and found Cereno in Barangay Pardo.
Cereno resisted arrest and opened fire at the pursuing lawmen who retaliated and killed him.
Police Staff Sgt. Sergeant Chuby Caloscos was wounded in the leg during the shootout.
The policeman was also shot in the body. Fortunately, he was wearing a bulletproof vest at the time.
The policeman was presented to Philippine National Police chief Police Gen. Debold Sinas, who visited the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas headquarters Friday.
“It could have been more serious if not for the bulletproof,” said Sinas.
Police Major Glenn Hife of the Regional Drug Enforcement Group-Central Visayas said Cereño was the leader of “Spartan,” a robbery group operating in Cebu.
The group is also involved in the illegal drug trade, police said.
Police also identified Cereño as the gunman in the killing of Police Senior Master Sgt. Maximino Macua.
Macua was killed in a botched anti-drug operation in Barangay Mambaling in 2019.