Laoac cop chief, 3 men relieved over shootout
LAOAC–The chief of police here has been relieved of his post over a shooting incident where a father and son were killed in the afternoon of June 19 in Barangay Lebueg in a shoot-out with policemen in his presence.
Senior Inspector Lodovico Eleazar was ordered relieved by the provincial police director, Senior Superintendent Rosueto Ricaforte pending completion of the investigation.
Three other town policemen, who joined Eleazar in responding to a report of indiscriminate firing in Barangay Lebueg at past 3:00 p.m. that day, were also relieved.
When Eleazar and the three policemen accosted the father-and-son suspects on the reported fired shots, an altercation ensued which led to a shootout between the suspects and the responding policemen.
The suspects, identified as Rodrigo Eleazar, 62, and his son, Gener, 32, were killed.
The town’s police chief said its was the father and son who opened fire at the policemen, accompanied by barangay officials, and his group only retaliated in their defense.
The Laoag police reported that the shoot-out at 3:40 p.m. lasted three minutes and when the smoke cleared, Rodrigo and Gener were both dead from bullet wounds in different parts of their bodies.
Wounded in the shooting were SPO3 Erwin Lopez; Barangay Chairman Edgar Eleazar, brother of the chief of police; and Rogelio Lopez, brother of the policeman.
The father and son were reportedly armed with a Caliber 45 pistol.
LONG-STANDING CONFLICT
A few hours after the shooting incident, Police Regional Director Chief Superintendent Franklin Bucayu formed a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) to investigate the incident.
The SITG is headed by the Criminal Investigation and Investigation and Detection Group, with the Provincial Intelligence Investigation Branch, Special Operations Group and the Scene of the Crime Operatives.
Bucayu’s move may have been prompted by the claim of members of the family of the dead that the policemen, along with the barangay officials, opened fire at the father and son first.
All those who figured in the incident are reportedly relatives and neighbors who had long been at odds.
The SOCO recovered from the scene one caliber .45 Glock pistol with two magazines and live ammunition, spent shells for Glock .45 pistol, and cartridges for M16 and M14 rifles.
Senior Inspector Bonifacio Gannaban has been designated by Ricaforte as officer-in-charge of Laoac Police Station.
Eight policemen from the Public Safety Mobile Company in Tayug have also been sent to Laoac to beef up the town’s police force and help prevent further violence.
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