Allan de la Torre
  • Sex: Male
  • Occupation: crime gang member
Incident Details
  • Killed in police operation at home
  • Date of Incident: September 26, 2018
  • Location of Incident: Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu
Source(s)

CEBU CITY – Seven members of a notorious gun for hire and illegal drugs group were killed in a shootout with the police Wednesday afternoon in Barangay Pajac, Lapu-Lapu City.
The fatalities were said to be members of a group responsible for the series of killings in Lapu-Lapu City, said Senior Supt. Lemuel Obon, Lapu-Lapu City police chief.
“They were involved in gun-for-hire and illegal drug activities,” said Obon.
The fatalities were identified as Abundio de la Torre Jr., Allan de la Torre, Mohaimen Conda Mauyag, Shainoden Dimasimpan, Manuel Pepito, a certain Jovan and a certain Mantak.
The seven men were residents of Sitio Saint Michael, Barangay Pajac.
Killing spree
Obon said Dimasimpan and Mantak were identified by a witness as the one who fatally shot Indiana Aerospace University student, Kristian Saldavia, last September 19 in Barangay Pajac.
“Last Sept. 26, there were three murders that happened and the suspects were members of the group,” said Obon.
Shots fired
At around 3 p.m. last Wednesday, operatives of the City Intelligence Branch (CIB) proceeded to Saint Michael after they received reports that the suspects were in the area.
“While the police were approaching a house believed to be the hideout of the suspects, shots were fired. Shots were coming from different areas. It was a close-quarter battle and there was even a running gun battle since one of the suspects tried to escape,” recalled Obon.
Chief Supt. Debold Sinas, chief of the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas, said what happened was a legitimate operation.
“The suspects fired the first shots and our police just retaliated. Luckily, our police are well-equipped. No one was injured from the side of the police because they were wearing vests,” Sinas said.
“We are open to any investigation. As a matter of procedure, the Lapu-Lapu police is investigating the incident and the PRO 7 will have its own probe,” added Sinas.
Recovered from the fatalities were three .45 caliber pistols, one .357. revolver, one .9mm pistol, one .38 revolver and 13 packs of shabu.
Pursuit ops
Pursuit operations against the other members of the group are ongoing, Obon said.
“They have 17 members and we are still looking for the other members, including the leader,” Obon said.
Toughies
The members of the group are known toughies in the area, said Obon.
“We had sent assets to the area but we had a hard time gathering information about this group because when there are strangers going to the sitio, they frisked them and check their identities. We were even told that they challenged the police to arrest them, they were ready to fight back,” Obon said.
Security lock
After the incident, operatives of Special Weapons and Tactics were deployed in the area.
“They will be there 24/7. We have to strengthen our police presence in the area. We sympathize with the relatives of those who were killed but some barangay captains and Muslim organizations were happy with the result because this group is very notorious. They were involved in snatching, thefts and other petty crimes that have happened in the area,” Sinas said.