Cop, two suspects hurt in buy-bust that went awry

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A police officer and two persons were wounded during an operation against unauthorized selling of firearms at Circumferential road in Barangay Taculing here yesterday.

Based on a report from the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), the wounded individuals were Police Corporal Rey Sivestre, a personnel of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Bacolod, and the two suspects identified as Michael Bintoroso, 44, of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, and Alex Villegas, 33, of Barangay Pahanocoy here.

Investigation indicated that the suspects met with the CIDG operatives inside a sports utility vehicle (SUV) owned by the law enforcement agency.

But a commotion ensued when the suspects allegedly sensed that they were transacting with a cop.

Captain Dax Santillan, head of Police Station 6, said that it was possible that they grappled for a firearm that later went off.

All three of them suffered minor injuries and were taken to a hospital.

Recovered from the scene were a .45-caliber pistol with two magazines, a .9mm-caliber pistol with three magazines, two cellular phones, and a motorcycle used by the suspects.

Santillan said the CIDG coordinated with them regarding the buy-bust operation, but they responded when they received a report regarding the “shooting” incident.

The CIDG has yet to provide more details about the incident.