Sniper shoots dead police official

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 29): Sniper shoots dead police official

CAMP GEN. SIMEON A. OLA, Legazpi City -- The deputy chief of police of Libon town in Albay did not reach the hospital alive after he was gunned down by a sniper while manning a checkpoint at Sitio Pinagbadilan, Barangay Buga, Libon Tuesday morning.

Police Senior Supt. Marlo S. Meneses, Albay Provincial Police Office director, said the incident occurred at about 5:45 a.m. while Police Senior Insp. Joerem Kallos of the Libon Municipal Police Station was busy manning the checkpoint as his fellow police officers were conducting an operation to arrest Gilbert Concepcion, a former member of the Philippine Army who has been identified as involved in a string of criminal cases like murder and robbery.

Concepcion has been tagged as the No. 1 Regional Most Wanted Person in Bicol.

Meneses said a group of law enforcers led by Police Chief Insp. Rodel Pescuela, Libon chief of police, was on its way to serve a warrant of arrest to Concepcion at Barangay Molosbolos where he stays among his relatives since he has been wanted by the law for his string of criminal cases.

Kallos and his men immediately set up the checkpoint to prevent Concepcion from escaping but the suspect apparently got wind of the move to arrest him and allegedly sent a sniper to gun down Kallos to clear the way for his escape.

Meneses said Concepcion was a former New People’s Army rebel who had surrendered and had been absorbed by the government as a soldier.

He said the former rebel was trained by the Philippine Army but got involved in many crimes, including the killing of engineer Nelson Morales of Malinao, Albay.

Morales was the former Makati City engineer and trusted official of Vice President Jejomar Binay.

He was planning to run for mayor of Malinao town in 2010 when he was gunned down in front of the town church.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=841961