POLICE are searching for one of the five brothers who allegedly killed the chief of the Catmon Police Station last Christmas Eve, while he was heading home to his family.
Jaime Jayson has sent surrender feelers through his parents, but Chief Inspector Christian Torres, Carmen police chief, said they do not know when Jaime will give himself up.
He and three of his brothers — Ricardo, Camilo and Carlo — allegedly shot and killed Senior Inspector Alexander Nuñez, 38, in Barangay Puente, Carmen last Saturday afternoon.
Nuñez was trying to pacify another Jayson brother, named Carlito, when the latter allegedly fired at him but missed. Nuñez shot back in self-defense.
Later that day, two of the other Jayson brothers—Ricardo and Camilo—were shot while in police custody. Only Carlo is detained.
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Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Chief Noli Taliño said that the Philippine National Police will provide financial assistance to the slain police chief’s family.
Taliño has ordered a manhunt against Jaime, who allegedly stole Nuñez’s Glock 17.
“Ang sabi ko di nila dapat palampasin ito at kinakailangang ma-neutralize in whatever way na ma-neutralize ito. Kung ayaw sumuko at lumaban, barilin na. Patayin na rin (I told the police not to let this pass. We have to neutralize him in whatever way. If he refuses to surrender and fights back, shoot him. Kill him, too),” he told reporters.
Witnesses, according to the police, saw Ricardo Jayson take Nuñez’s service firearm, the Glock 17, and shoot the police official in the right hand and twice in the back of his head.
His other brothers allegedly pinned the police official to the ground. They were reportedly drunk.
Had records
Taliño said that the suspects had been listed in the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council as alleged drug users and at least three of them had a criminal record.
He described Nuñez’s death as unfortunate.
“We commend him for being a hero during that incident. Unfortunately, nagbuhis siya ng buhay para mapacify sana ang isang kagulohan (He gave his life while trying to end a commotion),” said Taliño.
Ricardo, Jaime and Camilo had been charged with murder in 2014, but were released after their victim’s relatives reportedly failed to show up in court several times.
“Naa daw na sila’y gitabangag dunggab (They were accused of stabbing someone),” said Torres, chief of the Carmen station, in a phone interview.
Ricardo and Camilo were killed after last Christmas Eve’s shooting by the police, after they allegedly tried to grab the arresting officers’ guns.
SPO4 Renerio Masocol Jr., Carmen police deputy chief, suffered a gunshot wound in the left hand when he grappled with Ricardo for the gun. He is now confined in a hospital.
Home-bound
Before the crime happened at 4:15 p.m., Nuñez was driving his white Isuzu Crosswind sports utility vehicle (GHZ-338) toward Lapu-Lapu City, to join his family for the Noche Buena.
He was alone and wore street clothes at the time.
In Puente, Carmen town, the brothers Ricardo, Camilo, Carlo, Jaime and Carlito were drinking outside a store.
Carlito allegedly tried to shoot the caretaker of the store, but the gun malfunctioned. He struck the caretaker’s head with his gun.
When Nuñez passed by the area, he noticed the commotion and saw Carlito firing indiscriminately. He stopped and disembarked from his vehicle.
Nuñez approached Carlito and introduced himself as a police officer.
Carlito suddenly fired at the police officer, but missed. Nuñez shot back, hitting Carlito in the chest.
After Carlito fell on the ground, Nuñez, still holding his Glock 17, told the other Jaysons not to move. The brothers raised their arms.
Revenge
He picked up Carlito’s gun. Just as he turned his back and started to walk back to his vehicle, Ricardo, Camilo, Jaime and Carlo ganged up on him.
Witnesses told the investigators it was Camilo, Jaime, and Carlo who pinned Nuñez to the ground. Ricardo grabbed the Glock 17 and shot Nuñez at close range, twice in the back of his head.
Afterwards, the suspects fled with the Glock 17 and Carlito’s firearm.
A team led by SPO1 Edgardo Papaya went to Puente after they were informed by the villagers about the incident. They recovered two sachets of shabu and P5,000 cash from Carlito’s pockets.
Papaya and his personnel pursued the suspects, eventually arresting Ricardo, Camilo and Carlo.
The team brought the suspects to the police station. Another team continued searching for Jaime.
While his fingerprints were being taken, Ricardo allegedly grabbed Masocol’s gun, which went off and hit him.
PO1 Jayson Ramos shot Ricardo several times and the latter was rushed to Cebu Provincial Hospital in Danao City, where he was declared dead on arrival.
Medal
For his part, Camilo convinced the police that Jaime could be hiding with their relatives in Barangay Corte, Carmen. The police brought him with them.
Upon arriving in the village, Camilo allegedly tried to grab the gun of one of the officers.
The officers shot him and rushed him to the same public hospital in Danao City. Camilo arrived dead.
Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Eric Noble has appointed Senior Insp. Narciso Abapo as the new chief of Catmon Police Station.
Noble and Taliño said they will both give financial assistance to Nuñez’s family.
A medal will also be given to the slain police official.
“Pauwi na sana. Ang gusto niya maka-Noche Buena sa kanila. Ang plano daw niya, after Noche Buena, babalik siya sa police station kasi tuloy-tuloy yung Tokhang operations natin (He was on his way home. He wanted to share Noche Buena with his family, but was reportedly planning to go back to the police station to continue their Oplan Tokhang activities),” said Taliño.
He will be buried on Jan. 7 at the Sanctuary Memorial Park in Danao City.
Long wake
His wife, PO3 Brigitte Nuñez, said that she and her family are hoping for justice and the last suspect’s arrest. She said she understood that what her husband did was part of standard operating procedures.
“A murder charge will be filed tomorrow against the arrested suspect and the other one who is at large,” she said in an interview yesterday.
Nuñez joined the police force as a non-commissioned officer in 2002 and became a commissioned officer in 2008. Before he was assigned to the Catmon Police Station, he served as the chief of Carmen Police Station during the 2016 elections.
He previously served as head of Cordova Police Station.
The wake for the slain officer, a father of two, will be held in St. Peter’s Memorial Chapel in Mandaue City until Thursday, Dec. 29.
On Thursday morning, his wake will be transferred to the Cebu Provincial Police Office for one night.
That way, Brigitte explained, their colleagues and classmates will get to say their goodbyes before the wake is transferred to Danao City.
The family plans to hold the wake in Danao for eight days.
Officials of the Police Regional Office 7, Cebu Provincial Police Office, Mandaue City Police Office and other municipal police stations visited the officer’s wake yesterday. Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale also arrived and assured Brigitte that the Capitol will send assistance.