Christmas day killer slain in shoot-out with cops

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
February 26, 2013

CAMP SEC. KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte – Police shot dead one of Samar’s Most Wanted person after a brief shootout in a coastal barangay in Calbayog City early Monday morning.

Ambrocio De la Cruz, who eluded authorities for years, died after he was hit in the chest and legs as he shoot it out with lawmen while trying to escape.

Police Chief Superintendent Elmer Ragadio Soria of Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) said De la Cruz was charged with a crime of murder for the hacking-to-death of one Ervin Velarde on Christmas Day in year 2010 due to personal grudge.

“De la Cruz was ranked number 6 in the list of most wanted person of Matuguinao town in Samar and is considered armed and dangerous,” Soria added.

On Sunday, police received information of the suspect’s whereabouts in Brgy. Cagmanipis Norte, Tinambacan District in Calbayog City. A composite team composed of elements of Special Operations Task Group (SOTG-Samar), 8th Regional Public Safety Battalion (8th RPSB), Samar Provincial Public Safety Company, Calbayog City Police Station and Matuguinao Municipal Police Station proceeded to the area at around 4:00 o’ clock early Monday morning after confirming the veracity of the report purposely to arrest the suspect.

The police team was clothed with an arrest warrant for murder issued by Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 41 Judge Feliciano Aguilar in Criminal Case No. 11-0519 against De la Cruz.

Upon arriving at the area, the policemen immediately cordoned his safehouse and demanded the suspect to surrender but he opted to shoot it out with the police team and tried to escape by jumping through the window.

The team fired back ending with De la Cruz bloodied on the ground with gunshot wounds in the chest and legs.

Suspect was immediately brought to Calbayog City District Hospital for medical treatment but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

Police recovered from the scene the suspect’s caliber .38 Armscor revolver bearing serial number 31425 loaded with 4 live bullets and one spent shell of .38 caliber.