• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A police intelligence operative was killed, while two other police officers, including a deputy police chief, were injured during a buy-bust operation Monday night in Barangay Talaptap, La Castellana, Negros Occidental.
Police identified the slain officer as PMSg Davy Carampatana, an intelligence operative of the La Castellana Police Station. He was declared dead on arrival at a local medical facility after sustaining multiple stab wounds.
According to Lt. Col. Joem Malong, spokesperson of the regional police, the suspect identified as Edward Acupan, 41, allegedly violently resisted arrest during the anti-drug operation conducted by the town police Drug Enforcement Team, led by PMaj. Romulo Gepilango.
Initial police investigations showed that Acupan, allegedly aided by his 68-year-old mother, Delia, were both armed with bladed weapons and attacked the police operatives during the operation.
The assault resulted in the fatal injuries of Carampatana and inflicted wounds on PCpt. Michael Muñez, deputy chief of the La Castellana Police Station, and PCpl. Gerson Guache.
Muñez sustained stab wounds and is currently undergoing treatment at the Doctor’s Hospital in Bacolod City, while Guache suffered minor injuries.
Acupan also sustained injuries during the incident and is being treated at the La Castellana Rural Health Unit. He and his mother are now under police custody, pending the filing of charges.
Authorities recovered two bladed weapons, suspected shabu valued at around P47,600, assorted drug paraphernalia, and marked buy-bust money from the suspects.
Aside from illegal drug peddling, the police further linked Acupan to robbery-holdup incidents and alleged gun-for-hire activities in the fourth and fifth districts of Negros Occidental.
Carampatana became the second police officer in Negros Occidental to die in an anti-illegal drug operation since last month. PMSg Romulo Galvez, a member of the Police Station 9 Drug Enforcement Team, was shot and killed during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City on April 9.
Meanwhile, newly installed Negros Island Region police director PBrig. Gen. Romano Cardiño and Negros Occidental police director PCol. Dennis Wenceslao visited the injured Muñez at the hospital on Tuesday and awarded him the Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting or Wounded Personnel Medal.
Cardiño also extended his condolences to the family of Carampatana, describing the fallen officer as a hero whose courage and dedication in serving the public would never be forgotten.
The regional police chief also reminded law enforcement personnel to exercise maximum caution and vigilance during high-risk anti-criminality and anti-illegal drug operations.*
