‘Wanted robber’ killed in Sipalay shootout

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

 

BACOLOD City – An alleged member of an organized robbery group in Negros Occidental was killed after he allegedly resisted police operatives at Sitio Manluy-a, Barangay San Jose, Sipalay City last Saturday.

Police Major James Latayon Jr., city police chief, identified the suspect as Eddie Epogon, 25, of the said village, who was a member of the Epogon robbery group.

The group was tagged in the series of robbery and hold-up incidents in Sipalay City and Cauayan town in previous years, Latayon added.

Epogon had warrants of arrest for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and illegal possession of explosives, and robbery with homicide, issued by Judge Edwin Gomez of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 77 in Sipalay City, and Judge Sue Lynn Lowie-Jolingan of RTC Branch 53 in Bacolod City, respectively, according to a report from Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo).

Latayon said policemen went to the house of the suspect to serve the arrest warrants, but Epogon allegedly shot them, prompting the police operatives to shoot him dead.

Latayon said Epogon was with his wife and child when the police arrived at their house, but he told them to leave the house before the shootout occurred.

Latayon said Epogon succumbed to gunshot wounds in the head and chest. Police recovered from him a .45 caliber pistol.

The operation was led by Regional Special Operation Group (RSOG)-6 headed by Major Antonio Benitez, in coordination with the Regional Intelligence Division (RID)-6, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Negros Occidental, 2nd Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company (Nocpmfc), Sipalay City Police Station, 604th Company of Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB)-6, and Army’s 15th Infantry Battalion (IB).

Latayon said the officers defended themselves given the danger they faced.

Latayon said the suspect was a relative of the Epogons who were arrested in Silay City last year.

He said the group is still active and was reported to have links in illegal drugs.

He said that some of the group’s members were scattered in various areas in the province and even outside Negros, like Cebu, but he has no idea yet on the number of the remaining members of the group.