An alleged rapist was killed early yesterday morning after engaging in a gun battle with police in Kabankalan City’s Barangay Tampalon. Police identified the fatality as Ricar Loberas, a resident of the said area with an outstanding arrest warrant on rape charges, issued by Judge Rodney Magbanua of the Kabankalan City Regional Trial Court-Branch 61.
The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) pointed out, the deceased suspect was previously been detained at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. Following his release, he is believed to have assembled a criminal enterprise, primarily responsible for a series of burglaries, that operates across Negros Occidental.
The suspect was also involved in the kidnapping of a woman, who was released after her family agreed to pay a ransom.
Once police tracked down the suspect’s whereabouts, he opened fire when police attempted to serve his arrest warrant. In response, law enforcement personnel returned fire, killing Loberas.
Police recovered a 9mm pistol, .38 caliber revolver, assorted 9mm and .38 caliber bullets, two small sachets of suspected shabu, and drug paraphernalia from the crime scene../DGB, WDJ