A murder suspect, who was alleged to be a criminal gang leader, and three of his companions were killed in a shootout with the police in Sta. Catalina town, Negros Oriental, Sunday evening.

An initial police report identified the slain murder suspect as Michael Garsula of Barangay Malaunay, Valencia town, also in Negros Oriental.

He was supposedly the leader of the Garsula gang that police have previously tagged as allegedly responsible for the murder of businessman Demeterio Larena III, and other crimes allegedly perpetrated by the group.

The three others with Garsula remained unidentified as of press time, although police recovered from one of them a voter's identification card that bore the name of Bonifacio Catano, said Chief Insp. George Badon, police chief of Sta. Catalina.

He said about 10 police operatives and Army soldiers comprising a composite group flagged down the four men, who were on motorcycles, in Sitio Cambungao, Poblacion Sta. Catalina, at around 8 p.m. Sunday, and declared that they were government troops.

The law enforcers were to serve court warrants of arrest against Garsula, Badon said.

Garsula and his group, upon learning that these were police and military personnel, allegedly turned around their motorcycles, dropped to the ground and opened fire at the law enforcers, Badon added.

A shootout followed which lasted for a few minutes which led to the deaths of the four men. Recovered from Garsula and his companions were a .45 caliber handgun, a .38 caliber revolver, and an improvised shotgun, Badon said, adding the bodies are now at a funeral parlor in Sta. Catalina, waiting to be claimed by the dead men's relatives.

He said Garsula was facing a number of arrest warrants, including for a murder case that was issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 39 Judge Arlene Catherine Dato.

Another arrest warrant for murder was also issued against Garsula by Judge Eric Maxino, as well as other court orders for his arrest in relation to a frustrated murder case and robbery.

To recall, police investigators identified Michael Garsula as among those allegedly responsible for the death of Demetrio “Pororoy” Larena III, who was shot dead along the national highway in Sibulan, Negros Oriental, on October 20, 2011.

The 65-year old Larena, owner of a number of pawnshops, was driving his Pajero sport utility vehicle when armed men shot and killed him in broad daylight.

Other suspects were identified as brothers Jimmy and Jerry Inocerta, who have also been linked to a series of robbery incidents in San Jose town.

Michael Garsula and Jimmy Inocerta are also facing a murder case involving the death of a chief tanod in Malaunay, previous police reports had said.

Meanwhile, provincial police director, Senior Supt. Dionard Carlos, said they will look into the impact of Garsula's death on the alleged crime group that he purportedly led.

The Philippine National Police in Negros Oriental is relentlessly going after wanted persons as mandated by higher headquarters.

The firearms that were recovered from Garsula and his companions will also be submitted for ballistics tests and cross-matching, to determine if they will match evidences, such as slugs and spent shells, recovered from past criminal activities in the province, Carlos added.*JFP

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