An alleged wanted communist rebel and a police officer were killed in an armed encounter in Pasay City on Friday, June 24.
Police Brig. Gen. Roderick Augustus Alba, chief of PNP public information office, identified the suspect as a certain Hubert Aplacador.
Meanwhile, the slain cop was identified as PSSg Nikki Codera, of the Masbate 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company.
A police report reaching the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame disclosed that members of the Masbate 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company and Pasay City Police were serving a warrant of arrest for murder against Aplacador in Barangay Malibay around 4:40 a.m. when the shooting occured.
"During the process, suspect put-up armed resistance that led to a gunfight between police operatives and the suspect," the report said.
According to police, the susoect died on the spot after sustaining gunshot wounds to the body.
Meanwhile, Codera and another cop, Police Lieutenant Rogelio Walay, were also hit and both were rushed to San Juan de Dios Hospital in Pasay City.
However, Codera was pronounced dead on arrival by the attending doctors.
Police Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr., PNP Officer-in-Charge, condoled with the family of Codera as he described the latter's death as "unfortunate."
"Our police personnel tried to serve the warrant peacefully but the suspect was armed and was violent. Thus, the operating groups had to defend themselves," Danao said.
"It is unfortunate that one of our comrades died while fulfilling his duty as a law enforcer. This is the risk that goes along with our job in ensuring a criminal-free and crime-free community,” he added.