A suspected robbery group member died in a police shootout at Barangay San Jose in Sipalay City on Saturday, February 20.
Police identified the fatality as Eddie Epogon, 25, who was allegedly part of the Epogon robbery group, that was said to be responsible for a string of robberies in Negros Occidental.
Joint operatives of the Regional Special Operation Group-6, Regional Intelligence Division-6, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Negros, the 2nd Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company, Sipalay Police Station, Regional Mobile Force Battalion-6, and the 15th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army swooped down on the residence of the suspect in the wee hours to serve his three warrants of arrest.
The suspect had warrants of arrest for possession of illegal firearms and explosives, and robbery with homicide, all issued in 2020.
The arresting operatives introduced themselves as police officers, but the suspect allegedly opened fire, prompting them to retaliate, a police report said.
Epogon succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds on his body.*