BUKIDNON PROVINCE (MDN Mindanao News digital) – Police operatives of Valencia City in Bukidnon killed a rape suspect of a 26-year-old saleslady after he engaged in a shootout at a diversion road in Barangay Poblacion, Valencia City.
The police identified the fatality as Julieto Inocencio, a resident of Valencia City and reportedly a drug-listed personality in the city. He was brought to the hospital after a few minutes of firefight but attending physicians declared him dead on arrival (DOA).
Inocencio, police said, was involved in a string of criminal activities including burglary, gun-for-hire, robbery hold up and carnapping.
Investigation disclosed that the suspect was spotted in the poblacion and a tip from an informant informed the police operatives of the presence of armed men in the area, apparently referring to Inocencio and his unknown companion.
The police in Valencia under the instruction of newly installed Valencia City police chief Lieutenant Colonel Surki Serenas immediately formed a team and dispatched at the aforementioned place. The suspect, upon learning that police operatives are tracking them, opened fire which resulted into a shootout.
The police retaliated with shooting on Inocencio and his companion which resulted to the death of the suspect. He was rushed to the hospital after the shootout but doctors declared him DOA. His companion escaped unharm as he managed to slip out during the exchanged of bullets between the slain suspect and police operatives.
Col Sereñas confirmed to the media that Inocencion was among the suspects in the murder and rape of a sales lady at her boarding house alog Pepito Street, Poblacion Valencia, based on video footages from a security camera.
Earlier, police investigators invited the suitor of the 26-year-old saleslady for questioning as he became a person of interest but he was later released for lack of evidence that pointed to him as the rape suspect and murderer.
