Supt. Rodolfo Albotra Jr. presents drugs and firearms seized during a raid in San Francisco town, Camotes Island on Wednesday. The target, suspected drug pusher Alex Otida was killed. A policeman was wounded in the hand. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
A suspected drug pusher was killed while a police officer was wounded in a shootout during a drug raid in San Francisco town in Camotes Island, north Cebu on Wednesday afternoon.
One target, identified as Alex Otida, fired shots at the police and was later gunned down in sitio Cambat-an, barangay Santa Cruz.
Operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) were serving a warrant of arrest against Otida and another suspect.
PO3 Anthony Adizas, who was the first to enter the house of Otida, was wounded in his left hand.
Otida later died of multiple gunshot wounds. He was brought to the Ricardo Maningo Hospital but didn’t make it alive.
The wounded police officer showed the bullet whole on the handle of his 9mm service firearm.
He said he was thankful the injury was minor and that he could celebrate New Year’s eve with his family.
Six large packs and 17 sachets of suspected illegal drugs estimated to worth P800,000 were seized from Otida’s house.
Also recovered were a KG9 submachine pistol with 18 bullets, an extra magazine with 16 bullets, two caliber .45 handguns, a weighing scale, assorted cellphones and drug paraphernalia.
His 24-year-old live-in partner, Cheryl Ramirez, was invited to the PIB office for investigation.
In an interview, Ramirez said she moved in with Otdia in June.
“I knew that he was going to die or got to jail eventually. When police arrived at the house, Alex went on a shooting spree,” she said in Cebuano.
She said police officers pushed her away so she wouldn’t get caught in the crossfire.
The police had an arrest warrant issued by Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 25 Danao City Judge Jerry Dicdican against Otida and Louie Perosos.
Perosos was not around during the operation.
Supt. Rodolfo Albotra Jr, chief of PIB, said Otida was a known toughie in the area and was in the list of top 10 most wanted persons of the town.
Albotra said Otida was capable of disposing of 100 to150 grams of drugs per week in the whole island of Camotes and was involved gun-for-hire activities with other cohorts.
A makeshift hut near Otida’s house was used by customers as an area to sniff shabu.
Otida has three pending cases for frustrated murder and illegal drugs.
He was also tagged as a suspect in killing of Arnel Argallon and wounding of PO1 Demar Muana of San Francisco Camotes Police during a drug operation.
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