Police officer injured, suspect killed in Aklan shootout

The suspect lies dead along the road in Barangay Osman, Malinao, Aklan after a shootout with the Aklan police in the morning of July 27 / PHOTO BY PNP-CIDG AKLAN

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

 

A police operation turned bloody after the No. 1 most wanted person in Aklan was killed and a police officer was injured in a shootout in Malinao, Aklan early Monday morning.

 

Senior Inspector John Paul Tovera, chief of Aklan Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), identified the suspect as 62-year old Giovani Legaspi Masula alias Abad, native of Vivo, Tangalan, Aklan and presently staying at Osman, Malinao. 

 

Tovera said while they were positioned at the hilly portion of Osman, Malinao, Aklan, two ‘habal-habal’ motorcycles approached the direction of the police. The suspect was riding a Rusi motorcycle with his two companions when Police Officer 3 Roy Iguin of CIDG-Aklan flagged them along the road at around 4:20 a.m.

 

“Ang pangalawang motorsiklo na lulan ang anak at asawa ni Masula ay bumalik ng huminto ang unang motorsiklo. Si Masula ay bumaba sa unang motorsiklo at tumalikod ng makilala na mga pulis ito,” he added. 

 

Sensing he will be arrested, Masula drew his caliber .45 pistol and opened fire, prompting the police authorities to return gunfire at the suspect. The suspect died in the spot with multiple gunshot wounds in the body, chest and head while Iguin sustained minor head injuries.

 

Iguin was taken to Saint Gabriel Medical Center in Kalibo, Aklan for treatment and was declared out of danger. 

 

“May isang pulis ng Malinao police station ay milagrong nakaiwas sa tama ng bala galing kay Masula. Ang bala ay tumama sa kanyang hawak na M-16 rifle,” Tovera said. 

 

Recovered by Aklan Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO) were Masula’s caliber 45 pistol, two pieces of magazine assembly loaded with live ammunition, four fired cartridge of alleged M14, two fire cartridge of alleged M16, a bolo tucked in the suspect’s waist and the motorcycle. 

 

The slain suspect is tagged as the leader of Masula’s group involved in the gun-for-hire activities operating in the provinces of Aklan and Antique.

 

Two of Masula’s companions identified as Raymond Tambong, 28, resident of Libang, Makato, Aklan and Arche Legaspi, 28, resident of Vivo, Tangalan, Aklan were also brought to Malinao police station for investigation.

 

The operation was made by virtue of a warrant of arrest for murder in Criminal Case No. 3524 issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 1 presiding judge Marietta Homena-Valencia on April 16, 2012 in Kalibo, Aklan. No bail was recommended.

 

Masula is also a co-accused for homicide docketed under Criminal Case No. 10755 issued by Judge Domingo Casiple of RTC Branch 7 on February 26, 2014. A P40,000 bail bond was recommended for his arrest. 

 

Aside from CIDG-Aklan, elements of Aklan Public Safety Company led by Superintendent Rogen Morales, Provincial Intelligence Branch headed by Senior Inspector Bernard Ufano and Malinao police station led by Inspector Mark Ryan Panadero also joined the operation. 

 

“May mga sightings na tayo kay Masula umpisa last year sa Tangalan at Malinao at itong linggo nakatanggap tayo ng impormasyon sa ating ahente na ang suspek ay kasalukuyan sa Osman, Malinao, Aklan,” Tovera said.