AFTER failing to surrender as promised, the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) now wants to go after a suspected hitman, dead or alive.
In a statement yesterday, PRO-7 director Chief Supt. Noli Taliño directed police in the region to get Felix Abacahan Jr., alleged hitman of suspected drug lord, Franz Sabalones, dead or alive.
“Dead or alive, dapat makuha siya (He should be captured),” said Taliño.
According to Taliño, Abacahan needs to answer for the crimes he had committed.
“Nag-aantay kami kung magsu-surrender siya, eh wala pa naman. Ang sabi niya magsu-surrender siya anytime. (We were waiting for him to surrender but he hasn’t yet. He said he will surrender anytime),” said Taliño, adding that Abacahan could still surrender in any of the police offices in the region or even surrender directly to him.
“Kung tuloy-tuloy na magtatago siya, tuloy-tuloy din namin siyang hu- huntingin (If he continues to hide, we will also continue to hunt for him),” he said.
Abacahan, a barangay councilor of Maghaway, Talisay City, eluded arrest last October 5 following a shootout between his men and operatives of the Cebu Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) in Maghaway.
The incident resulted to the death of Abacahan’s brother, Joeser, and one of their alleged cohorts, Julian Bonghanoy Jr.
Operatives of PIB went to the area to serve a warrant of arrest issued by RTC Judge Gilbert Moises against the suspects.
Aside from being tagged as Sabalones’s hitmen, the Abacahan’s became the targets of the police operation for alleged ownership of unlicensed firearms.
Felix was believed to have been wounded in the shootout.
Following Abacahan’s escape, Taliño said that he could no longer guarantee his safety if he fails to surrender to the PNP.
Felix, who is certainly armed, would be in danger if he decides to fight back the police, said Taliño.
“Wala namang shoot to kill order pero puputok lang pulis natin kung endangered ang kanilang buhay. Of course, we need to defend ourselves also. Syempre basta pumorma siya, uunahan na ng pulis natin (There is no shoot to kill order, but the police will shoot if their lives are in danger. Of course, we need to defend ourselves also. If he prepares to shoot, the police will beat him to the draw),” Taliño warned.
During the police operation, high-powered firearms and ammunition were recovered inside the suspects’ hideout.