• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A police intelligence operative died while two others were injured during an anti-drug operation in Barangay Talaptap, La Castellana, Negros Occidental Monday night, May 11.
PMSg Davy Carampatana succumbed to multiple injuries after he was stabbed by the drug suspect identified as Edward Acupan, 41, who was the subject of a buy-bust operation.
Carampatana, an intelligence operative of the La Castellana Municipal Police Station, was declared dead on arrival at the town medical facility.
Initial police investigation showed that Acupan violently resisted and attacked members of the town police drug enforcement team led by PMaj. Romulo Gepilango.
Armed with bladed weapons, the suspect, who was allegedly aided by his 68-year-old mother, Delia, repeatedly stabbed the police operatives, which also led to the injuries of PCpt Michael Muñez, town police deputy chief, and PCpl Gerson Guache.
Acupan, who also suffered injuries, is being treated at the La Castellana Rural Health Unit.
He and his mother are now under police custody, pending the filing of charges against them.
The La Castellana police also recovered an estimated P47,600 worth of suspected shabu, assorted drug paraphernalia, and buy-bust money.
Acupan has been linked by the police to the robbery hold-up incidents and gun-for-hire activities in the fourth and fifth district of Negros Occidental.
Carampatana was the second police officer to have died in anti-illegal drug operations, next to PMSg Romulo Galvez, a member of the Police Station 9 Drug Enforcement Team, who was shot on April 9 in Barangay Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City.
Munez is being treated of his injuries at The Doctors’ Hospital in Bacolod City while Guache suffered only minor injuries.
PBrig. Gen. Romano Cardiño, acting director of Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region, and PCol. Dennis Wenceslao, director of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, conferred the Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting (Wounded Personnel Medal) to Muñez at the hospital.
Cardiño described the Carampatana as a “hero”, whose courage and dedication in the service of the people will never be forgotten.
He reminded police personnel to exercise maximum caution and vigilance in the conduct of police operations, especially during high-risk operations. | GB
