CALBAYOG City, Samar—Six died and one injured in the gunfight involving the police and the camp of Calbayog City Mayor Ronald Aquino past 5 p.m. on Monday, March 8, 2021 in Labuyao Bridge in Barangay Lonoy, Calbayog.
The official report of the police differs from statements of witnesses. The police said Aquino's camp started shooting at the police while witnesses said that the police on board two vehicles opened fire first.
On the side of the police, fatalities included Police Captain Joselito Tabada and Police Staff Sergeant Romeo Lauyon.
Tabada was the head of the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unity (PDEU) while Lauyon was a member of the Provincial Intelligence Branch and PDEU.
On Aquino's camp, fatalities included Dennis Abayon, the mayor's driver, and Police Staff Sergeant Rodeo Sario, the mayor's bodyguard.
Of the six dead, one was an employee of the City Government shot during the gunfight. His name is Clint John Paul Yauder.
Yauder was riding with his aunt onboard a Toyota Innova that was driven by his father. He was rushed to the St. Camillius Hospital in Calbayog City, but he died.
Injured in the incident was Police Staff Sergeant Neil Cebu, a member of the PNP K9 Unit. He was rushed to the Calbayog Sanitarium Hospital and then later transferred to the Catbalogan Doctors Hospital.
Tabada's body was found under the Labuyao Bridge past 10 p.m. on Monday. The cause of his death is still being investigated.
In the official report of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 8, Aquino's camp was onboard a white Toyota Hi-Ace van and started opening fire at the police onboard two vehicles. The police thought Aquino's camp was suspicious that they were being followed.
Onboard the two vehicles were members of the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) and PDEU.
Many witnesses claimed that it was the police who opened fire first.
As of this writing, Aquino's family has yet to give a statement. (JKDP/With NRC)