THE Police Regional Office (PRO) in Northern Mindanao has confirmed the death of suspected gang leader who was part of President Rodrigo Duterte's "narco-list."
Jovenjie "Jojo" Alferez, 41, was killed in Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, after fighting back against operatives by firing a .38 revolver, of which the police then retaliated. He was rushed to the hospital but did not make it alive upon arriving on the night of March 5.
Alferez, a resident of Barangay Isidro D Tan, Tangub City, succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds to the different parts of his body. However, a photo circulating in social media showing his face with bruises in the face, made some people doubtful he died by just mere gunshots.
Police recovered three sachets of suspected shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride), drug paraphernalia and the suspect's gun from the encounter site.
Colonel Danildo Tumanda, Misamis Occidental police provincial director, said the suspect has been a subject of manhunt operation considering his high profile background after he was involved in the series of robbery incidents not only in Northern Mindanao but other parts of the country.
"He never laid low after his release from prison for murder and robbery (charges). He still continued his old ways. He has been monitored dealing drugs aside from series of armed robberies," Tumanda said.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Surki Sereñas, PRO-Northern Mindanao spokesperson who confirmed the report, said that the suspect is notorious even within the police because it was not the first time he fights back by shooting police officers in operations.
"He did it to me and other police officers. Luckily I was not hit. Lt. Col. (Elias) Hampac, the former Chief of Police of Tangub City before me, was shot when he responded to a robbery staged by him," he said, recalling an incident with the suspect when served as the head of Tangub City police in 2014.
PRO-Northern Mindanao director Brigadier General Timoteo Pacleb said Alferez leads a criminal gang notorious for armed robberies, gun for hire, gun running and illegal drugs trade in the region.
Pacleb also said his gang collaborates with other criminal group like the "Martilyo Gang," that operated in Manila, Cebu, Bohol, and Caraga region.
"Misamis Occidental will be safer and better with the demise of Jojo Alferez. Appropriate awards will be given to our personnel for this highly commendable accomplishment," Pacleb said.
