3 days after leaving jail, 3 brothers killed in Cebu drug bust

MANDAUE CITY, Cebu – Three brothers who were released from jail last Friday, September 29, were killed in what the police said was a legitimate anti-drug operation at the compound of the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) in Barangay Guizo, Mandaue City, past 1 am on Monday, October 2.

The fatalities were identified as the Umpad brothers – Ruben, 25; John Vincent, 26; and Jerome, 28.

Another brother, 23-year-old Rustom, was arrested by cops from the Mandaue Police Station 3 following the anti-drug operation.

Chief Inspector Michelangelo Beltran, chief of the Mandaue Police Station 3, said they received information that the Umpad brothers were involved in the drug trade, prompting them to conduct a buy-bust operation.

“We followed all the procedures and the buy-bust was consummated,” he told reporters.

But according to police, John Vincent ran towards their house at the CICC compound when he noticed that he was transacting with cops. The police chased him, but another brother, Jerome, allegedly fired at the cops.

Police said they seized 3 small packs of shabu and 3 firearms from the suspects.

But the mother of the fatalities, Jean Umpad, said her sons were sound asleep inside their house when the police barged in. Jean told reporters that the police asked her and the girlfriend of one of her sons to get out of the house. Once outside, Jean said she heard gunshots.

The mother said her sons were released from the Mandaue City Jail, where they were jailed for 6 years due to a murder case, last Friday. The 3 were among those whose cases were dismissed under the Supreme Court’s Enhanced Justice on Wheels program.

“They were jailed because of murder. How could they be involved in illegal drugs?” Jean said.

She plans to ask for help from the Commission on Human Rights to seek justice for the death of her sons. – Rappler.com