A notorious robbery suspect was killed in a shootout with police officers in Piapi Boulevard, Barangay 22-C, Poblacion District on Saturday night, five hours after he allegedly held-up a lady in Bo. Obrero, Poblacion District.
Chief Insp. Michael Uyanguren, commander of the Sta. Ana Police Precinct, identified the victim as Judie B. dela Cerna, legal age, single and resident of Piapi Boulevard.
Uyanguren said dela Cerna was in and out of jail due to several robbery cases.
“He was caught and detained at Sta. Ana Police for more than 10 times,” Uyanguren said. “He was at city jail for at least five times.”
The suspect was released from the city jail last January after posting bail.
The police commander said dela Cerna was a bukas kotse expert in the city and also had criminal records at the police stations in San Pedro and Buhangin.
“The suspect is a RATS Tugis personality,” Uyanguren said. RATS Tugis is the operation of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) against suspects of robbery, akyat bahay, theft, and snatching.
The end of dela Cerna started at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday when he allegedly robbed a 35-year-old woman (name withheld) on Vinzons Street, Bo. Obrero.
The victim, a resident of del Pilar Street, Barangay R. Castillo, Agdao District, said she was walking when an unidentified man approached her and immediately declared a hold-up.
While pointed a gun, the suspect allegedly took the victim’s blue shoulder bag, containing a coin purse with P152 cash, a black mobile phone worth P3,500, a charger and other personal cosmetics paraphernalia.
The victim immediately went to Sta. Ana Police Station to report the incident.
When the operatives presented the station’s rouge gallery, the victim “positively identified” Dela Cerna.
Sta. Ana agents then conducted a pursuit operation at the suspect’s known address in Bakalan, Piapi Boulevard.
Upon arrival at around 10:20 p.m. that day, the operatives spotted dela Cerna walking along Block 20 of the barangay, reportedly carrying the victim’s shoulder bag.
An operative approached dela Cerna, and identified himself as a police officer.
However, dela Cerna reportedly pulled out a gun and shot the operative.
The operative was reportedly able to duck and returned fire just as dela Cerna was ready to fire anew.
Dela Cerna was hit in his body.
The operating team immediately rushed the suspect to the Southern Philippine Medical Center (SPMC). He died at the hospital.
The Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) team led by Chief Insp. Nolan Genova recovered at the crime scene a .38 caliber revolver, loaded with three live ammunitions and one fired cartridge case.
The team also recovered the victim’s shoulder bag, with all the items remained intact.
Operatives also recovered three sachets of shabu in the possession of dela Cerna at the hospital.
