By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A shootout took place at Purok Cabugwason, Barangay Mansilingan in Bacolod City yesterday morning after police attempted to serve an arrest warrant to a man wanted on illegal firearms charges.

Police identified the suspect as Prudencio Rosarito, Jr., a resident of the said barangay.

According to Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Bacolod (CIDG-Bacolod) chief, Police Chief Inspector Rey Cuanico, as authorities approached Rosarito’s home, the suspect opened fire, striking a CIDG operative, who was yet to be named.

The wounded operative, however, managed to return fire and hit Rosarito’s hands.

Cuanico said the suspect gave up after Rosarito’s mother intervened and asked the police to cease fire.

Rosarito and the wounded CIDG agent were brought to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) for treatment.

A search of the suspect’s home yielded one .45 caliber pistol, two .45 caliber magazines with live ammunition, one live M203 grenade ammunition, seven sachets of suspected shabu, and drug paraphernalia.

In a radio interview, Barangay Mansilingan Kagawad Carlos Anjao said Rosarito was harassing his neighbors and was always seen carrying a firearm.

Anjao also said the suspect was visited by police multiple times, as part of “Oplan: Tokhang,” urging him to surrender, but Rosarito refused.

Rosarito may face additional charges for the shootout and is now under the custody of the CIDG./DGB, WDJ