Calbayog Mayor conducts emergency meeting of Peace and Order Council after a PNP element lost two fingers

By PIA Samar
August 8, 2010

CATBALOGAN CITY  –  Calbayog City Mayor Reynaldo Uy conducted an emergency meeting of the city’s peace and order council after a member of the Philippine National Police (PNP) element lost two fingers.

His brush with death happened during an encounter with a suspect who resisted arrest.

The report filed by newly-installed Calbayog Chief of Police, Senior Superintendent Nestor Valenzuela said that on July 18, 2010, the Calbayog City Police Station members led by PO1 Rolando Diaz, chief of the Police Community Precinct (PCP II) together with PO3 Joseph Justiniano, SPO2 Roberto Labian and PO3 Bebiano Caber were about to serve the warrant of arrest on (one) Lito Abajo at Brgy. Migara, Calbayog City, who was inside the house of Rose Sofronio.

Abajo is wanted for murder in Criminal Cases No. 5086, 6291 and 6386.

The report further said that Lito Abajo, armed with M-16 armalite rifle suddenly opened fire to the arresting officers resulting to the injury of PO3 Joseph Justiniano.

Justuniano who sustained gunshot wound on his left hand was rushed to the St. Camillus Hospital where his two fingers were amputated.

The suspect managed to evade arrest.

The elements of Calbayog City Police Station led by P1 Rolando Diaz, together with SPO2 Roberto Labian, SPO1 Nilo Martija, PO3 Nemesio Terado, PO3 Bebiano Caber, PO3 Charles Coprada, PO2 Rodelio Catamora, PO2 Jose Jay Senario and PO1 Allan Labrague conducted joint manhunt operation for the possible arrest of the suspect.

Recovered inside the house of Rose Sofronio were one (1) unit caliber .38 with five (5) live ammos inside the cylinder, no marking and no serial number, one (1) piece short magazine and one (1) piece long magazine of M-16 armalite rifle, one hundred twenty-five (125) pieces live ammos of M-16 armalite rifle, eighteen (18) pieces empty shells of M-16 armalite rifle.