UPDATE: Man killed in San Fernando shootout an ex-convict involved in gun attacks - police

Local

THE man who was found dead in his gutted house following a shootout with police in San Fernando, Cebu was a former barangay councilor who was once arrested for illegal drug charges.

Before he was found dead, Jay Castañares allegedly shot a food vendor in Sitio Boloc-Boloc, Barangay Sangat, San Fernando around 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 21.

Police said Castañares fatally shot Emilio Miñoza Sabroso, who was driving a motorcyle at the time.

Led by Maj. Michael Gingoyon, operatives of San Fernando Municipal Police Station responded to the shooting incident.

Responding police were approaching the suspect's house when shots were fired at them.

San Fernando police then called for back-up from the Naga police and Regional Mobile Force Battalion-Central Visayas.

Though his was surrounded by police, Castañares allegedly refused to surrender, engaging the police in a gunfight that lasted for several hours.

Police later learned that the man was armed with two hand grenades.

Around 4 p.m., police, including Special Weapons and Tactics operatives, decided to move in and inched closer to the man's house.

The man was spotted hiding behind the concrete wall of his house as exchange of gunfire continued.

Pat. Kim Villariasa of RMFB-7 was hit in the chest during the gunfight.

As police returned fire, two big explosions were heard believed to have been caused by liquified petroleum gas tanks and hand grenades.

The man's house then caught fire following the explosions.

Firefighters arrived to put out the fire.

During the clearing operations, the man was found lifeless with bullet wounds and burn injuries.

Gingoyon said investigation is ongoing to determine what drove Castañares to shoot Sabroso.

The wounded policeman, on the other hand, was rushed to a hospital.

Police said Castañares was a known toughie in the area and was implicated in a shooting incident just last January.

He was elected as barangay councilor in 2016 but was arrested by operatives of the Carcar City Police Station for drug charges in 2017. He was released from jail in October 2025.

Records at the Cebu Provincial Police Office showed that the man was involved in a shooting incident in Naga City and was also accused of being one of the gunmen in the fatal shooting of the son of former Carcar mayor Nicepuro Apura in 2012, Gingoyon said.(CDB)