Cops killer slain in shootout near his house
By Paulo DS. Papa
The suspect in the fatal shooting of two policemen who were on duty last Saturday (Oct. 16) evening, was killed in a shootout with responding cops near his house at sitio Spokoi, Barangay Sabang in Naga City.
According to police, the suspect, Jericho Cano, 33, walked behind and suddenly hit PCMS Romeo B. Padua in the head with an iron pipe. After hitting Padua who fell on the ground, Cano took the victim’s service pistol and shot the police officer in the head near the neck. The shooting happened at around 6:30 PM at Vera’s Store along Caceres Street, Barangay Dinaga in Naga City’s old business district.
Policemen who rushed to the scene brought the victim, who was still breathing, to the nearest hospital but he died on the way. The attending doctor declared him dead on arrival.
Witnesses said Cano fled on foot towards Barangay Tabuco carrying his victim’s firearm.
While walking along Renacimiento Street in Barangay Tabuco, Cano chanced upon PCPL Christian Del Valle from Police Station 5 who was aboard his motorcycle going towards his direction. The suspect shot the approaching Del Valle in the head. The cop died instantly.
The suspect was cornered near his house by a team of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), operatives of the city’s police intelligence unit, and Padua’s colleagues from Police Station 1.
Seeing the responding policemen, Cano allegedly yelled “I’m the hitman” then fired at the cops but missed. The police officers fired back killing Cano in the process.
In a press briefing, PCol Marlon Catan, Naga City police director, said that Cano was high on drugs when he shot the two policemen.
PSMS Tobias Bongon III, NCPO’s spokesperson, said that 10-years ago, Cano was involoved in several theft incidents in the city. On Sept. 16, 2016, he allegedly stabbed an individual at the Naga City People’s Mall. He was jailed but released after two years.
Bongon said that based from the testimony of Cano’s sister, the suspect was indeed a drug user.