Cop hurt in shootout vs wanted person, eight nabbed, including six minors

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Police are conducting manhunt operation against a wanted person and some of his alleged companions who escaped from a shootout that wounded a police officer at Uriarte Subdivision, La Carlota City, Negros Occidental Wednesday.

Personnel of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO)-City Intelligence Unit (CIU) in coordination with other local police units were supposed to serve an arrest warrant for attempted homicide against Archelito Dumip-ig when the shootout happened.

Police Staff Master Sergeant Aaron Selda, investigator of La Carlota City Police Station, said a police officer assigned at the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) suffered a gunshot wound in his right hand and was taken to a hospital here.

Selda, however, did not elaborate how the armed encounter happened, as the initial report is still sketchy.

According to Police Regional Office (PRO)-6, Dumip-ig’s arrest warrant was issued by Presiding Judge Charmaine Mascardo of the Municipal Circuit Trial Court in Calatrava, with a recommended bail of P36,000.

Selda said Dumip-ig reportedly rented the house for about five days now, but no additional details were provided yet.

Two women aged 41 and 23 from Bacolod City and Don Salvador Benedicto town, respectively, were also arrested. They served as cooks at the suspect’s rented house.

But Selda said they are still investigating if the two women participated in the incident.

Six minors, who were also inside the suspect’s house, were placed under police custody pending further investigation.

Police also recovered an M1 Garand rifle, a .38-caliber revolver, four rifle grenades, a hand grenade, two sachets of suspected shabu, an improvised tooter, Identification cards, and other documents.

Selda said they could not yet give further details while investigation is ongoing.