By Jennifer P. Rendon
A police anti-drug operative was killed in what appeared to be a compromised anti-narcotics operation afternoon of Nov 28, 2020 at Barangay Abilay Sur, Oton, Iloilo.
Corporal Felfranz Lumahang, a member of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office-Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (IPPO-PDEU), was allegedly killed by riding-in-tandem gunmen around 2:50 pm Saturday at Barangay Abilay Sur.
The 32-year old Lumahang was a resident of Batuan Ilaya, Oton town.
Reports from the Oton Police Station said that they received a call from the PDEU team led by Major Gervinson Moyo, also a former Oton police chief, about the shooting incident involving Lumahang around 3:20 p.m.
Investigation indicated that the victim was waiting for the subject of a buy bust operation when two motorcycle-riding men arrived at their meeting place.
The backrider alighted from the vehicle and immediately shot the victim.
The duo sped off towards the Circumferential Road at Barangay Pakiad, Oton.
Lumahang’s PDEU teammates, members of Oton Police Station and the nearby Mandurriao Police Station in Iloilo City conducted hot pursuit operation against the suspects but to no avail.
The victim was rushed to Iloilo Doctors’ Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
PRIOR BUY BUST
Before he was gunned down, Lumahang reportedly took part in another buy bust operation 1:45 p.m. of the same day at Barangay San Rafael, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
Members of the Mandurriao Police Station led by Major Jonathan Pinuela and Moyo’s PDEU Team 1 arrested Mary Lee Zaragosa, a resident of Barangay Bakhaw, Mandurriao.
Zaragosa, a street level individual (SLI) drug personality, yielded 12 sachets of suspected shabu, P19,500 marked money, a black pouch, and a mobile phone.
The seized shabu was valued at P80,000.
It was surmised that the follow-up operation at Oton could be related to Zaragosa’s arrest.
IPPO STATEMENT
In a statement, the IPPO hierarchy said that “it is saddened by the untimely demise of one of our personnel during the conduct of drug operation today (November 28) at Barangay Abilay Sur, Oton, Iloilo.”
“We are expressing our profound condolences to the bereaved family of PCpl Felfranz D Lumahang. His dedication to duty and brevity is a manifestation of loyalty to police service,” Colonel Gilbert Gorero, Iloilo police chief, said.
“We are now conducting thorough investigation on this matter,” he said.
Gorero said he personally knew Lumahang and described the latter as a dedicated police operative
“IPPO will remain committed to our mandated task, which is to eradicate illegal drug in the society. We will not stop warring against illegal drugs,” the Iloilo top cop said.
Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) also said that it is one in grief with the family of Lumahang.
“Corporal Lumahang, who dedicated his life to serve the Ilonggos, will never be forgotten. The men and women of PRO6 will forever be grateful for the courage he showed and for his devotion to police service,” the PRO-6 statement added.
PRO-6 also assured that it will assist in the processing of all the claims and assistance that the government could extend to the family of Corporal Lumawang.
PRO6 already ordered Iloilo Police Provincial Office to intensify investigation for the identity of the suspects and the filing of the appropriate cases against them.
“The death of Corporal Lumahang will not be put to waste. Our pursuit to hunt down drug personalities will continue in order to achieve a drug-free Western Visayas.”
