BiliranIsland.com Staff
BiliranIsland.com
First Posted 04:08PM 4/7/2020
Leyte, Leyte — A member of the Regional Anti Illegal Gambling Task Force (RAIGTF) was killed while serving a Warrant of Arrest about 10: 00 in the evening on Sunday (April 5) at an upland barangay in Sitio Macalapi, Brgy. Libas here.
Leyte COP Police Captain Ryan Delima, identified the victim as Police Staff Sergeant Fernan S. Canuda, legal age, a nurse by profession, a member of the PNP assigned at the RAIGTF 8.
Capt. Delima in an interview disclosed that the RAIGTF led by Police Lt. Kemmy G. Bas was conducting Manhunt Charlie Operation at the vicinity to serve the standing Warrant of Arrest for murder and frustrated murder against the suspect idenitified as Lionilo Medalla.
However, when the suspect learned of the presence of the operating unit outside his residence, he immediately fired his firearm of still unknown caliber of firearm hitting in the process Sgt Fernan E Canuda. The policeman who was hit in the chest succumbed to untimely death.
Capt Delima said that fellow operatives of the victim failed to arrest the suspect who immediately fled his house from the police. He said that because of darkness, the operatives also failed to follow the escape route of the suspect who knows the terrain better than the operating policeman. He added that the operating team could not also fire their guns for fear that they will hit their fellow officers who were surrounding the house of the suspect.
The suspect is facing murder and frustrated murder for killing his relatives over land dispute.
The SOCO is processing the crime scene as of press time.
