TWO officials of the Manila Police District and two other cops were injured while two suspects died during a shooting encounter between the police and the Alcantara Criminal Group in Balut, Tondo, Manila the other night.
Treated at the Chinese General Hospital (CGH) were MPD intelligence chief PLT. Col John Guiagui who sustained a wound in the hand; special mayor’s reaction team chief PMaj Emmark Dave Apostol who got hit in the thigh and PMSg Julius Omolon and PCpl Keith Paul Valdez who both sustained a gunshot wound in the body.
Dead on the spot were Archie Juco, alyas ‘RJ’ of the Alcantara Criminal Group and residing at 2648 Pinoy St. Brgy. 145, Zone 12, Balut, Tondo, Manila and a certain alias ‘Macmac’.
Initial investigation by PMajor Dennis Turla, chief of the Manila Police District -homicide section, said that the incident took place at 10:40 p.m. after the operatives from SMaRT and the District Police Intelligence and Operation Unit (DPIOU) headed by Maj. Kevin Bautista and Police Station 1, went to the residence of Juco to serve an arrest warrant issued against him by Manila RTC Presiding Judge Cirile Maduro Foja of Branch 6 dated March 18, 2024.
Juco’s girlfriend reportedly sensed the presence of the policemen in their area that she ran into their house, closed the doors and told Juco to escape.
At that point, gunfire was exchanged which ended up in the four cops sustaining injuries while Juco and Macmac were killed.
Also found at the scene was a grenade without its pin which was reportedly hurled by Juco but failed to explode.
Police said Juco is involved in cases of killing in Manila, along with incidents of carnapping, illegal drugs and gun-for- hire activities and that multiple warrants of arrest have been issued against him for different cases.
The said operation against him was carried out after police received information that Juco was seen in his residence.
NCRPO Director PBGen Jose Melencio Nartatez ,Jr and Director Tomas Arnold Ibay commended the wounded cops who were also awarded with medals.
