By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A wanted suspect was killed, while two police officers were wounded, after the suspect reportedly resisted arrest at Sitio Indingawan in Barangay Manlocahoc, Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, around noon on Thursday.

Police identified the suspect as Emerson Antepaso, Jr., a resident of the said barangay and the most wanted individual in the city.

The suspect was wanted for murder.

Sipalay City police chief, Police Chief Inspector Nazer Canja, said they received a report of Antepaso’s presence in the area and took the opportunity to serve an arrest warrant against him.

After police reached the area, Antepaso allegedly fired an improvised shotgun at officers, striking Police Officer 3 (PO3) Joy Pabera and PO2 Armando Luis Arsenal.

The remaining cops returned fire, killing the suspect on the spot.

Pabera and Arsenal, meanwhile, were rushed to the city’s district hospital for initial treatment. They were later transferred to the Riverside Medical Center for further treatment.

Canja added, the station had conducted manhunt operations against the suspect three times since 2016.

Police recovered several unfired units of ammunition for a 12-gauge shotgun, one empty 12-gauge cartridge, one jungle knife, and the said firearm./DGB, WDJ