The younger brother of a Dumaguete City councilor was shot Tuesday afternoon after he allegedly resisted arrest and reportedly attempted to shoot pursuing policemen in Purok Kalamunggayan, Sitio Canday-ong of Barangay Calindagan, this city.
The suspect was identified as Victoriano Dy Esmeña III, also known as Thirdy, 37 years old, married and a resident of Barangay Junob, Dumaguete City. He is in the police’s Top 10 list of Most Wanted Persons in the city.
He is the brother of incumbent city councilor Atty. Jayjay Esmeña and also the son of former Dumaguete councilor, Atty. Franklin Esmeña, the police said.
A police report said that intelligence operatives of the Dumaguete proceeded to Canday-ong around 9:10 p.m. Tuesday after receiving a tip from a concerned citizen that the younger Esmeña was spotted at an eatery in the area.
Upon arrival there, the police saw the suspect and an unidentified male companion standing near parked motorcycles and as they approached and introduced themselves, the unidentified male allegedly pulled out a firearm and fired at the law enforcers.
The unidentified suspect then fled on board a motorcycle while Esmeña, meanwhile, allegedly pulled out a gun from his bag and fired at the police but the firearm jammed as he fled on foot.
During a hot pursuit operation, Esmeña allegedly aimed his gun again at the policemen, who, “sensing the imminent danger of their lives”, fired at him to neutralize him.
He took a wound on his leg and was rushed to the hospital for treatment, initial police investigation showed.
A subsequent search led to the recovery of one fragmentation grenade, one caliber .357 revolver with live rounds of ammunition and a cellular phone from the suspect.
Victoriano Dy Esmeña III is the subject of two warrants of arrest for “Robbery with Intimidation Against Person” in Criminal Case No. 2010-20027 and for “Violation of R.A. 6535 or the Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972” in Criminal Case No. 2010-20028 which was dismissed.
Meanwhile, OIC provincial police director Sr. Supt. Mariano Natu-el, Jr. said he has directed his men to heighten efforts in the arrests of wanted persons in their respective areas of operation.
According to Natu-el, there appears to be a low accomplishment of the police in Negros Oriental as far as the execution of arrest warrants.
Natu-el said this is also one of the priorities of Chief Supt. Danilo Constantino, the regional director of the Philippine National Police in Region 7. (PNA)
