Gen. Luna shooting result of legitimate buy-bust operation, says ICPO's intel chief
Chief Inspector Musa Amiyong, head of the Iloilo City Police Office's (ICPO) Intelligence Division, said the shooting incident involving him and two persons very early morning of Sunday was an offshoot of a legitimate buy-bust operation.
In an interview with Jun Capulot over GMA-Super Radyo yesterday, Amiyong said Federico Dolar and Roy Barsote were subjects of a buy-bust operation conducted by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agent Lito Jimena.
Amiyong, however, did not elaborate on why and how the shooting transpired.
He only said that he has knowledge about Jimena's operation and he even provided the money used for the supposed buy-bust.
Dolar and Barsote, riding on a motorcycle, were allegedly shot by Amiyong while they were passing below the Infante flyover in Gen. Luna Street around 2 a.m. last Sunday, August 17.
Dolar only suffered a minor wound in his elbow and is currently detained at the Police Station 1 lock-up cell while Barsote was hit at the back and is currently undergoing medical treatment.
The incident was entered in the police blotter as violation of R.A. 8294 or illegal possession of firearms and resisting arrest.
Responding policemen recovered 2 empty shells of .45 caliber pistol and a .38 caliber revolver, believed to be owned by Dolar, from the crime scene.
Dolar when interviewed by the media refused to give a full account of the incident but he hinted that it was related to the throwing of grenade at the construction site of Hanjin Industries in Brgy. Bitoon, Jaro last August 14.
He denied that they were subjected to a buy-bust operation.
Meanwhile, Jimena, who was also reached by the same radio station, said Dolar was only trying to divert the issue when he linked the shooting to the throwing of grenade at Hanjin construction site.
Jimena confirmed that what happened was a buy-bust operation which he has been working for almost one week.
He said he has known Dolar as Michael not Federico who is included in the PDEA's watchlist.
He admitted that he informed Amiyong about his operation being the chief of ICPO's intelligence division and his former boss.
Jimena said, that night Dolar was supposed to deliver to him the P10,000 worth of shabu that he ordered two days before wherein he gave a downpayment of P1,500.
Jimena said before they agreed to meet below the Infante flyover, Dolar had changed their meeting place twice apparently to ensure that the transaction would be safe.
Jimena also recounted that when they already met, Dolar did not readily gave him the shabu he was supposed to deliver, instead the latter bluffed him by showing his .38 caliber revolver.
It was at that time, said Jimena, when Chief Inspector Amiyong passed by on board his car. He said when Dolar saw Amiyong he immediately went up the motorcycle and told Barsote, the driver, to speed up.
After that, Jimena said he heard several gunshots then he saw the two fell from the motorcycle and tried to ran away.
Dolar was caught up by Amiyong inside Ted's Old Timer La Paz Batchoy in the corner of Infante and M.H. Del Pilar streets while Barsote, already wounded, was found near Jollibee.
Police Station 1 commander Chief Inspector Conrado Carganillo said they are still conducting thorough investigation on the case.
He said both Dolar and Barsote would be subjected to paraffin examination to determine if they also fired their gun.