The anti-carnapping operation of the Provincial Highway Patrol Team (HPT) resulted in the death of a suspect who was allegedly an active member of the Philippine Navy (PN) in an armed encounter along Cavite Road, Barangay 8, Cavite City.
Authorities are still investigating the identity of a male suspect killed in hot pursuit operation while his companion escapes but police are now under his trail.
A certain Police Chief Master Sgt. Julius Arcalas of the Highway Patrol Team was hit by stray bullet at the height of gun battle and later succumbed to his death while in the Cavite Medical Center.
Another civilian named Ricardo Magbanua was also injured by stray bullet and is now reported safe at a hospital.
Initial report said the encounter happened at the vicinity of Cavite Road in Barangay 8 on Friday, November 6, around 1 p.m. while Highway Patrol Team-Cavite led by Police Capt. Eduardo Joy Guadamor were on duty patrol along Arcalas and Police Staff Sgt. Emerson Domingo.
After a while, they spotted a Nissan Terra Silver gray with no plate number as two of the suspects were passengers inside the said vehicle.
The team ordered them to stopped and asked for the documents but the suspects did not show any documents but identified themselves as members of the Philippine Navy instead.
Eventually one of the suspects sitting in passenger seat rolled down his window with a caliber 5.56 bushmaster pistol in his hand and begins shooting directly to the HPT officer hitting Arcalas in the body.
The suspects fled the scene but the HPT officers were able to track them down until both sides exchanged a hail of gunfire killing one of the suspects.
Probers are still investigating the slain suspect’s identity and if he was indeed a member of the Philippine Navy.