Injured	Killed
1	2

Date: 10 May 2010
Source: http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/top-stories/9235-cavite-shootout-ex-solon-charged-.html

CHARGES were filed against ex-Cavite Representative Plaridel Abaya and several others after they assaulted the Bacoor Municipal Police Station last Monday, leaving two persons dead and an officer wounded.

Charged along with Abaya were lawyer Reynaldo Robles, Petty Officer 2 Eduardo Fernandez, Petty Officer 2 Rolito Antason, Lauro Geronimo Jr., Neil Obillos, and several other John Does. 

Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus A. Verzosa said the charges include direct assault on a person of authority, violation of the Omnibus Election Code, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and frustrated homicide.

Verzosa said Abaya was taken to the Cavite Provincial Police Office headquarters for investigation along with Fernandez and Geronimo.

Investigation showed that four unidentified armed men arrived at the Bacoor police station at 2:30 p.m. last Monday and started firing at the facility prompting the police officers to retaliate.

PO2 Manuel Gacosta was shot in the head. Killed were retired Col. Arnulfo Obillos and Seman 2nd Class Paraiso.

Police Regional Office 4-A director Chief Supt. Rolando Anonuevo said Abaya’s group forcibly took an M-60 machinegun mounted at the police jeep that  was parked in front of the Bacoor police headquarters, surprising SPO1s Ricardo Poblete and Hangelito Deng-lasan and one PO2 Casalme.

Poblete ran inside the station and informed Supt. Ramil Montilla of the incident. Montilla tried to calm down the group but the suspects reportedly opened fire at the policemen, prompting them to return fire. 

Verzosa said that prior to the incident, concerned citizens turned over to the Bacoor police some men they arrested for alleged “vote-buying.” Hours later, Obillos’ group and 11 others, two of them in military uniform, arrived at the police headquarters and tried to disarm the policemen. 

“There were illegal firearms brought by these persons,” he said.

Verzosa said that after the shooutout, police recovered over P1 million in one of the suspects’ vehicles.

“The money was bundled in a carton and it aroused suspicion that it will be used to buy votes. Our investigators are trying to establish the connection between the money seized in the vehicle and those used by the suspected vote-buyers,” Verzosa said.

Cavite police director Senior Supt.  Primitivo Tabujara Jr. said Abaya’s main rival is Lani Mercado, wife of Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.