BALANGA CITY — Two suspected gunrunners and a police officer died while two other police officers were wounded in an encounter in Barangay Gen. Lim in Orion, Bataan at dawn of Tuesday.
Relatives identified the suspects who died on the spot as Felix Capacia, 48, and son Mark Anthony Capacia, 23, of Gen. Lim.
Capt. Michelle Agnetha Gaviola, Bataan police information officer, named the officer who was killed in action as Corporal Darnel Alfonso, member of the Bataan police intelligence unit.
Wounded in action were Major Dennis Duran, newly-installed PIU officer-in-charge, and Master Sgt. Glenn Salac, PIU member, who were confined at the Bataan General Hospital in Balanga City.
Gaviola said the armed encounter ensued from a buy-bust operation on RA 10591 (Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunitions Act). She said the suspects opened fire on the advancing police personnel who retaliated.
Recovered were one Colt .45 pistol with 12 live ammunitions, one .45 pistol with no brand name loaded with six live ammunitions, one homemade 12-gauge shotgun with four live shells, and one fragmentation grenade.
The raiding team was composed of elements of the Bataan PIU, Orion municipal police station, 2nd Police Mobile Force Company and Bataan CIDG.
Gaviola said the Bataan Police Provincial Office under Col. Palmer Tria commends the gallantry and heroism of their personnel “who exhibited unwavering bravery in the successful conduct of the police operation.”
“We extend our sincerest gratitude to our brave police personnel for their selfless service and sacrifice to keep our province safe. We assure our citizens that the Bataan PPO remains steadfast in carrying out our mandate to serve and protect, and we will spare no effort in bringing to justice those who threaten the safety and security of our province,” said Gaviola quoting the message of the provincial police director.
