Two ex-cops shot dead in Iloilo, Bacolod City

By Jennifer P. Rendon and Glazyl Y. Masculino

Two former police officers were gunned down in separate incidents in Iloilo province and Bacolod City on Thursday

A dismissed cop was shot dead after he allegedly assaulted policemen Thursday afternoon in Estancia, Iloilo.

Leonidez Labaroza, 43, of Barangay Bayuyan, Estancia, Iloilo, succumbed to a lone gunshot wound on the left side of his body.

He was taken to Jesus Colmenares District Hospital in Balasan town where he was declared dead on arrival.

Lieutenant Jobert Amado, Estancia police chief, said a team of four police officers went to a compound occupied by Labaroza and his relatives in Bayuyan village after the latter’s aunt asked for assistance.

The woman claimed they felt threatened by Labaroza’s strange behavior and uncontrollable actions.

He allegedly detached the LPG valve causing it to leak and threatened to set it on fire by clicking a lighter.

Labaroza’s aunt claimed that he was with his sibling’s two children, and they were afraid he might physically hurt them.

The team of Master Sergeant Rey Labordo, Staff Sergeant Joebert Castillo, Patrolman Antonio Ruiz, Jr. and Patrolman Jayson Villamor responded to the area.

Castillo negotiated for Labaroza to calm down.

“We were hoping that he would listen to Castillo since they worked together at Estancia PNP and acted as security personnel for former mayor Rene Cordero,” Amado said.

But instead of calming down, the suspect tried to attack Castillo. The latter managed to evade the blow.

Another policeman tried to pacify the suspect, but Labaroza also poised to attack him.

When it was Villamor’s turn, the suspect stabbed him several times. He fell and was cornered in an alley.

Amado said they were left with no choice but to neutralize Labaroza, with Labordo shooting their former colleague.

Both Labaroza and Villamor were rushed to the hospital.

Villamor is now recuperating from stab injuries on his back and arm.

Labaroza was dismissed from service on March 12, 2021, after 16 years of service.

His last unit was the PNP Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (RPHAU) in Camp Delgado, Iloilo City.

He was charged for two counts of conduct unbecoming of a police officer that eventually led to his dismissal.

In Bacolod City, police are looking into work-related issues or personal matters as angles in the killing of a former cop along Lizares extension, Barangay 40 here last Thursday.

The victim was identified as former Patrolman Ryan Lomugdang, 41, of Celine Homes, Barangay Estefania here, who also rented an apartment in Barangay Taculing here.

Major Leo Estopa, head of Police Station 6, said Lomugdang was driving his motorcycle home when two unidentified assailants on another motorcycle tailed and shot him.

Lomugdang was rushed to Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital here but he later expired.

Police recovered from the scene five ammunition cartridges of still undetermined caliber.

Prior to the shooting, Lomugdang asked permission from his wife to go out to meet someone but did not disclose any information.

“May tabu-on daw siya, kaduha siya mag-guwa sa ila balay para magtabo sa kilala niya,” Estopa said, citing the statement of the victim’s wife.

Estopa said they continue to check Lomugdang’s background to establish the motive.

“Basi bala may nakaaway siya or basi related man sa previous work niya,” the station commander added.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Sherlock Gabana, public information officer of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), said that Lomugdang was dismissed from the police service in December 2016 for grave misconduct after he tested positive for drug use.

Gabana said that Lomugdang’s last assignment was at Police Station 2.