By Nanette Guadalquiver
BACOLOD CITY – The subject of a drug buy-bust who killed a police operative here died in a hospital over the weekend, leaving behind a string of criminal cases filed in the past 15 years.
As of posting time, it was not yet disclosed how Ronelo Panuncial, 32, died.
Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) Director Col. Eugene Rebadomia confirmed in various media interviews that the suspect passed away at Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital on Saturday morning.
Panuncial shot M/Sgt. Romulo Galvez Jr., 43, a member of the BCPO Police Station 9 Drug Enforcement Team, as he tried to evade arrest just outside a motel in Barangay Singcang-Airpor on April 9.
Galvez succumbed to a gunshot wound to the thigh at Bacolod Adventist Medical Center past midnight on April 10.
“Suspect has a history of repeated criminal involvement,” the police said on Monday.
Six cases took place in Barangay Sum-ag here.
On June 7, 2011, he was involved in a direct assault incident, and on May 16, 2012, in alarms and scandals cases.
Less serious physical injuries were recorded on June 16, 2012 while violation of the Anti-Gambling law followed on May 15, 2014.
On June 19, 2018, he was involved in robbery and on July 20, 2018, in serious physical injuries.
He was also arrested and charged for a robbery incident in Barangay 2, Kabankalan City on Oct. 30, 2024.
In Barangay Sibucao, San Enrique, he was also involved in malicious mischief on Nov. 6, 2024.
The suspect also has an outstanding warrant of arrest for theft issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 42 in this city on March 18, 2025.
The Police Station 9 operatives seized from Panuncial PHP48,000 worth of marijuana in sachets and a caliber .45 pistol loaded with five live ammunition. (PNA)
