ILOILO City – A police Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) officer narrowly escaped death after his Kevlar helmet was struck by a bullet when a shooting suspect opened fire on lawmen during a pre-dawn arrest operation in Barangay Airport, Mandurriao, leading to a tense armed confrontation that ended with the suspect’s capture.
The suspect, identified only as alias “Ben,” 50, was arrested following a hot pursuit operation conducted by personnel of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) and the Iloilo City Police Station 10 (ICPS10) hours after a fatal shooting that claimed the life of alias “Norman,” 51.
Initial police investigation showed that the victim encountered the suspect along a road in Barangay Airport at around 11:30 p.m. on June 19. Witnesses said the victim even greeted the suspect before he was allegedly shot in the head.
The assailant fled while the victim was rushed to a hospital, where he was later declared dead.
Police said that at around 3 a.m. on June 20, a concerned citizen informed authorities that the suspect had returned to his residence and was allegedly armed.
Acting on the tip, policemen personnel immediately proceeded to the suspect’s house. Officers initially attempted to secure the suspect’s peaceful surrender through negotiations, but he allegedly refused to cooperate, prompting the deployment of the SWAT Team.
At approximately 5:45 a.m., while negotiations were still underway, the suspect fired four shots toward responding police officers and SWAT personnel.
During the confrontation, a SWAT officer’s Kevlar helmet was hit by a bullet, while a ballistic shield was also struck, underscoring the danger faced by the arresting team.
Despite coming under fire, SWAT operatives returned fire and successfully subdued and arrested the suspect.
The suspect sustained injuries during the incident and was brought to Western Visayas Medical Center, where he remains under hospital arrest.
Investigators from the Iloilo City Forensic Unit processed the crime scene and recovered evidence for laboratory examination and documentation.
ICPO director Police Colonel Wilbert Parilla commended the responding officers for their restraint and professionalism despite the life-threatening situation.
“We extend our condolences to the victim’s family and assure them that justice will be pursued. We also commend our SWAT personnel for their courage, professionalism, and tactical discipline in safely arresting the suspect despite coming under fire,” Parilla said.
“This successful operation reflects the dedication of our police officers in protecting the public and ensuring that those who violate the law are held accountable. ICPO remains steadfast in maintaining peace and order and safeguarding the lives of our community,” he added.
Authorities said they are preparing appropriate charges against the suspect for the fatal shooting as well as for his actions during the arrest operation.
The ICPO also urged the public to immediately report incidents that threaten public safety to help authorities maintain peace and order in Iloilo City./PN
