A man wanted for five counts of rape was killed in an alleged shootout with policemen who tried to arrest him in Talisay City, southern Cebu.
Norman Mara-mara, 48, was shot in the face.
Supt. Romeo Santander said operatives of the City Intelligence Branch (CIB) of the Cebu City Police Office and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team acted in self-defense after Mara-Mara resisted arrest and attempted to shoot them.
Police tried to serve two arrest warrants issued by Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge James Stewart Himalaloan against Mara-mara in barangay Bulacao but failed to locate him there.
Mara-mara was later spotted by police in barangay Tabunok.
Police said they approached the man to serve the arrest warrants but Mara-mara allegedly drew a gun, prompting the police to shoot him, said SPO4 Roger Nedamo of the Pardo police station.
Police said they recovered a 9mm caliber pistol from Mara-mara’s possession.
The gun will be subjected to a cross-matching examination to check if it had been used in previous shooting incidents, said Santander, chief of CIB.
Santander said police are verifying reports that Mara-mara was involved in gun-for-hire activities.
Santander said the man was also implicated in the killing of the son of a police official in barangay Inayawan two years ago.