By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A civilian was killed while a police chief and three others were injured in an anti-illegal gambling operation in Negros Occidental’s Ilog town on Saturday, March 18.

Suspect Abundio Redoble, 35 years old, a resident of the town’s Barangay Dancalan, succumbed to a gunshot wound to his chest.

Ilog police chief, Captain Thurslie Castillo sustained multiple stab wounds to his back, side, elbow, and leg, but he is now in a stable condition.

Redoble’s brother, John Mark, 25 years old; Samson Tagapan, 63 years old; and a 16-year-old boy also sustained gunshot wounds, police said.

The Ilog police, led by Castillo, conducted the operation after receiving reports of about 30 individuals allegedly playing cara y cruz or tumbo in Barangay Dancalan around 9:00 p.m., Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office spokesperson, Police Captain Judesses Catalogo said.

In the middle of the raid’s scuffle, Catalogo said Castillo was able to get a hold of some suspects.

However, the Redoble brothers and Tagapan retaliated and stabbed the police chief.

Castillo, in response, drew out his service firearm and shot the suspects.

Catalogo said the police are still investigating the incident./DGB, WDJ