By Jennifer P. Rendon
The most wanted man of Tigbauan, Iloilo and his yet unidentified cohort were killed in a police shootout at Antipolo City, Rizal early evening of March 10.
Police reports said that Reagan Gepulango and his companion allegedly put up a fight when police tried to serve arrest warrants against Gepulango at around 6:50 p.m. of Wednesday at Blue Mountain in Barangay Sta. Cruz.
Gepulango, who was tagged as the No. 1 most wanted man in Tigbauan, was the subject of at least six arrest warrants.
He was respondent in Criminal Case No. 21-86079 for carnapping; Criminal Case No. 21-86078 for violation of Section 1 of Republic Act 9516 (illegal possession of explosives further Amending Sec 3 of Presidential Decree); and Criminal Case No. 21-86080 for violation of Section 261 of Batas Pambansa 881 in relation to Section 264 thereof to Section 32 of Republic Act 7166 and to COMELEC Resolution 10197.
No bail was recommended for his Republic Act 9516 case.
All three arrest warrants were issued by Judge Daniel Antonio Gerardo Amular of the Regional Trial Court Branch 35 in Iloilo City on February 9, 2021.
Gepulango was also respondent to Criminal Case No. R 21-21 for attempted homicide issued by Judge Rysty Ann Espinosa-Borja of the Municipal Circuit Trial Courts in Cities Branch 9 in Iloilo City on Feb. 4, 2021; CC No. 14-73469 for attempted murder issued by RTC Judge Camantig of Iloilo City on Feb. 29, 2014; and CC No. 2390 for murder with the use of unlicensed firearm issued by Judge Nelson Bartolome of RTC Branch 67, Guimbal, Iloilo on Sept. 16, 2013.
Colonel Gilbert Gorero, Iloilo police chief, said that members of the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group-Luzon Field Unit, together with members of Antipolo City Police Station and PNP Drug Enforcement Group, engaged the two subjects in an armed encounter as they tried to serve the arrest warrants against the suspect.
The operating troops claimed they were about to enter via the back door of the house when they were shot at.
This prompted them to allegedly seek cover and return fire.
The two fatalities fell after a short exchange of gunfire.
Police recovered a caliber .9mm with magazine; two caliber .45 pistols with magazine; and suspected shabu.
It was gathered that the Tigbauan Police Station has provided material evidence leading to the operation against the suspect, Gorero said.
The AKG operatives knew of Gepulango’s presence after their “trusted agent” relayed that he was sighted at the said area.
A series of validation and intelligence operation were immediately conducted.
When police confirmed Gepulango’s presence, AKG-LFU operatives and members of other police units stormed on Gepulango’s abode.
Gorero said that Gepulango was involved in several crimes in Iloilo, some of which were possibly never filed in court.
He was allegedly involved in the murder of Jose Lego on April 26, 2012 at Tigbauan, Iloilo. Thus, the case for murder with the use of unlicensed firearm.
The operating officer had also verified Gepulango’s record with the PNP Firearm and Explosives Office prior to the operation. It was confirmed that he was not a registered licensed firearm holder.