TAGBILARAN CITY -- A suspect in the recent killing of a Bohol mayor was killed in a shootout with elements of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team and the Provincial Intelligence Branch in Barangay Concepcion, Danao town early Wednesday.
Police identified the fatality as Emigdio Aparece Jr., one of Bohol’s most wanted person, engaged the authorities at about 2 a.m.
Aparece was one of three suspects in the slaying of Buenavista Mayor Ronald Lowell “Sampol” Tirol in a cockpit in Barangay Asingan, Buenavista.
The SWAT team, led by Supt. Gaylord Tamayo, responded to reports that Aparece had been spotted in Barangay Concepcion.
Tamayo said he and his team tried to ask the suspect to surrender. Aparece initially indicated he was going to yield but instead opened fire, leaving the police no choice but to fire back.
The police has been on Aparece’s case due to multiple arrest warrants against him, Tamayo said, adding that numerous operations were launched to arrest him but that he managed to escape.
Early this year, Aparece was also allegedly involved in the killing of a police officer in Buenavista during a town celebration.
A manhunt is ongoing for the capture of the other two suspects in Tirol’s killing.
Earlier, Senior Supt. Angeles Geñorga said a PHP200,000 bounty has been put up for Aparece.
A PHP200,000 bounty has also been raised for the capture of another suspect, identified as Elmer Melencion, alias “Eti”, along with a PHP100,000 reward for the identification and capture of the third suspect. (PNA)
