POLICE Regional Office-Central Visayas Director Debold Sinas has named former Tejero barangay captain Jessielou Cadungog as the primary suspect in the death of a police officer in Cebu City Monday morning, July 30.
Police Officer 3 Alcuin Calumba of the Parian Police Station was shot dead after he fired at Cadungog's vehicle around 8 a.m. Monday in Villagonzalo 2, Cebu City.
Cadungog, who is now a Barangay Tejero councilor, was onboard his red Toyota FJ Cruiser along with a companion when Calumba and a police asset identified as Michael Banua shot at them.
Calumba and Banua were onboard a motorcycle when they attacked Cadungog.
But the village official's companion, who remained unidentified, fired back, hitting Calumba.
It was the responding authorities who later identified Calumba and Banua.
Banua was arrested and later turned over to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Central Visayas headquarters.
Cadungog, meanwhile, went into hiding after the incident.
Sinas then ordered a manhunt operation against the barangay official and his companion, saying Cadungog is the main suspect in the shooting incident.
He said Banua did not see other persons inside the red vehicle reportedly carrying Cadungog.
He said Banua and Calumba, who is an operative of Parian Police Station-Drug Enforcement Unit, were conducting anti-illegal drugs surveillance in Barangay Tejero when the shooting happened.
He said the surveillance was legitimate, but Cadungog was not the specific subject.
When asked why the personnel of Parian police are the ones conducting surveillance in Tejero, which is under the jurisdiction of the Waterfront Police, Sinas said the Parian police received reports about the illegal drug trade in Tejero.
He also urged Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, deputy mayor on police matters, to return the evidence he got from the crime scene to the Cebu City Police Office.
Sinas threatened to charge Tumulak with obstruction of justice.
Tumulak was the first to inform reporters that a police officer was involved in the shooting.
He later provided two identification cards recovered from Banua, including his ID as "Lambat Sibat volunteer."
Banua's driver's license card indicated that he is a resident of Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental. His cellular phone is now in custody of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña. (Kevin A. Lagunda/VoxPop Philippines)