Two police officers sustained gunshot wounds while attempting to subdue a murder suspect they were about to arrest in Barangay Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City recently.
The wounded were identified as Lt. Roque Gimeno III and Patrolman Jhon Ray Ortega, both assigned to the Bacolod City Mobile Force Company.
“I commend the heroic acts of Lt. Roque and Pat. Ortega,” Col. Manuel Placido, director of the Bacolod City Police Office, said in a statement Saturday.
At about 9:45 p.m. on Thursday, the team, led by Gimeno, served an arrest warrant to Limuel Talaman, 34, at his residence in Purok Neptune but while the suspect was being informed of his constitutional rights, he pulled an improvised firearm.
Ortega quickly tried to disarm him but was shot in the left arm while Gimeno was hit in the right leg.
The suspect was eventually subdued by other members of the arresting team and was endorsed to Police Station 8.
Ortega was admitted to a hospital while Gimeno was treated as an outpatient.
Placido also lauded the other team members for the successful operation, resulting in the arrest of a wanted person and the confiscation of a loose firearm, and for respecting the basic human rights of the suspect.
The wounded police officers received financial assistance from the city police and the Police Regional Office 6, headed by Brig. Gen. Rolando Miranda, in the fulfillment of the thrust of Philippine National Police chief, Gen. Debold Sinas, to support and provide financial assistance to wounded or injured personnel in the performance of legitimate police operations. Lt. Ma. Liberty Indiape, city police public information officer, said that Police Station 8 was preparing charges against Talaman for resisting arrest and illegal possession of a firearm.*PNA
