By DIANN IVY CALUCIN
An alleged gun-for-hire was killed in a shootout with the police in Barangay Baesa, Quezon City on Saturday, Dec. 24.
The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) identified the slain suspect as Richmond Dalisay.
According to the QCPD, members of the District Tactical Motorized Unit (DTMU) who were manning a checkpoint on Road 19, Project 8, Barangay Bahay Toro, in the city at around 9:45 a.m. on Thursday, flagged down the suspect and his cohort’s black Suzuki Skydrive motorcycle for an inspection.
Police said that Dalisay suddenly fled on foot which prompted a police officer to chase him.
His cohort, identified as Gabriel Tamondong, was able to escape, it added.
John Dale Salazar, a delivery rider who witnessed the incident, helped the police officer by letting him ride his motorcycle to go after Dalisay.
During the chase, Dalisay drew and fired his gun, hitting the delivery rider.
Salazar was immediately brought to the Quezon City General Hospital Medical Center. He was declared dead on arrival.
Meanwhile, police said Dalisay escaped after he forcibly took a black Honda Click motorcycle from another rider.
The QCPD immediately dispatched personnel to arrest the suspect at around 11:30 a.m. on Satuday, after they located him in a house at Sitio Ambuklao, Barangay Baesa, Quezon City using drone cameras.
Barangay Baesa Councilor Renan E. Castillo also went to the area to convince Dalisay to surrender peacefully, but the suspect refused.
QCPD said that Dalisay fired his gun towards the police officers who were approaching the house. The cops fired back, killing him.
An investigation conducted by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) revealed that the suspect was involved in a series of killings in Quezon City.
Recovered from him was a cellular phone, where videos of him killing his victims were found.
Tamondong was also arrested by CIDU operatives in Barangay Baesa at about 7:30 a.m. on Saturday.
The QCPD requested a ballistic examination to identify the owner of the firearm used by the Dalisay.
Appropriate charges will be filed against the suspect.