By MARTIN SADONGDONG
FREEDOM proved to be short-lived for a fugitive inmate who was among the 23 detainees who bolted the Bacoor police detention center in Cavite last month after he was gunned down by police Saturday morning.
Michael Salac’s 22-day journey as a fugitive ended in a bloody gun battle with elements of Bacoor City Police in his house at Saint Francis St., Mary Homes Subdivision, Brgy. Molino 4, Bacoor City.
Supt. Vicente Cabatingan, chief of Bacoor City Police, said they have received intelligence information days ago that Salac was frequently visiting his family, particularly his brother, in their house so he ordered the deployment of undercover agents in the area.
Bacoor cops finally got an opportunity to arrest Salac after he was spotted around 5 a.m. Saturday but things got awry when the suspect allegedly fired shots at the team.
Cabatingan said the team was left with no option but to fire back and a brief gun battle ensued. After the firefight, Salac ended up dead due to multiple gunshot wounds to the body, he added.
Salac was involved in a daring jailbreak in Bacoor City Police detention center on July 27 where 23 inmates had bolted their cell. He was initially arrested on May 22 on multiple illegal drug-related charges.
Police have already recaptured 16 inmates, including the supposed brains behind the escape plan.
With Salac’s death, the hunted fugitives are down to six namely Ariel Villacampa, Marcelino Ruiz, Junmarco Castro, Richard Manatad, Jason Daniel and Roland Ramirez.
Cabatingan noted that all six have drug-related charges.
He also urged the residents of Bacoor and nearby cities to be vigilant as all six escaped inmates are considered dangerous.
