BUTUAN CITY – An officer of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and a suspect were killed in a pre-dawn shootout in San Jose, Dinagat Islands, on Thursday, police said.
In a report, the Dinagat Islands Police Provincial Office (DIPPO) said two CIDG personnel were monitoring Abner Casador for brandishing firearms in Purok 4, Barangay Santa Cruz, when the shootout erupted at 3:40 a.m.
The report said the suspect sensed the arrival of Police Patrolmen Ferry Sida Jaso and Leonel Estroso. Casador drew a .45 caliber pistol and fired at Jaso in the head, killing him on the spot.
The suspect grabbed Jaso’s 9mm pistol, prompting Estroso to grapple for the firearm. Estroso managed to shoot and kill the suspect.
Scene-of-the-Crime Operatives (SOCO) recovered a .45 caliber pistol with bullets and a loaded 9mm pistol from Casador.
The two bodies were brought to a funeral home for postmortem examination, the DIPPO report said.
“The Dinagat Islands Police Provincial Office extends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims,” DIPPO chief Police Col. Jerome dela Cruz said in a statement Thursday.
Dela Cruz characterized the incident as an isolated case and assured Dinagat Islands residents that police are working hard to prevent such incidents. (PNA)