By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The most wanted robber in Bacolod City was gunned down by law enforcement after he allegedly opened fire at arresting police officers Wednesday afternoon in Barangay Villamonte, Bacolod City.

Police identified the fatality as 24-year-old Jibbert Villanueva, a resident of Purok Lubi in the city’s Barangay 3 and considered the most wanted individual by Police Station 4 (PS4).

PS4 commander, Police Chief Inspector Ritchie Gohee, said station personnel tracked down Villanueva’s whereabouts to Lopez-Jaena Street, where they served his arrest warrant.

Cops immediately surrounded the area and urged Villanueva to surrender peacefully, however, he allegedly ran into a nearby house, prompting police to give chase.

When police broke into Villanueva’s hiding spot, they found the suspect aiming his firearm at the officers. In response, Police Officer 2 (PO2) Vicente Pabuaya was forced to draw his service firearm and shot Villanueva twice, hitting him in the chest and neck, and killing him on the spot.

Gohee revealed Villanueva was involved in the robbery of a jeepney at Bangga Patyo, also in the said barangay, a few hours prior to the operation.

During the robbery, Villanueva and another unidentified suspect managed to cart away with P183,000 in cash and other valuables.

Aside from being PS4’s most wanted, Gohee added Villanueva was also Police Station 2’s third most wanted due to carnapping charges./DGB, WDJ