Gayotin driver faces frustrated homicide raps

Acting city police director Melvin Gayotin yesterday ordered the filing of a frustrated homicide case against his civilian driver who accidentally hit a woman when his .45 caliber pistol went off during a snatching incident Monday afternoon in barangay Carreta.

But the victim, Teresa dela Peña, and her husband Lolito wanted an amicable settlement of the case with Jose Gerry Leonardo be the one to foot the hospital bill and surrender the pistol.

Nevertheless, Gayotin ordered Homicide Section chief Mario Monilar to pursue the filing of the case against Leonardo and leave the amicable settlement issue to the City Prosecutor's Office.

The incident happened when dela Peña was riding a jeep from barangay Mabolo to the National Statistics Office to have their marriage contract authenticated. A 16-year-old boy reportedly grabbed an erring from a woman who was standing by. Leonardo, who was driving a private multicab to bring his child to school, saw the boy run and attempt to board the jeep that Dela Peña was riding. He then disembarked and followed the boy.

Leonardo said when the boy tried to resist, he pistol-whipped him in the head trice until the gun accidentally went off and hit Dela Peña.

The boy was arrested by the Carreta barangay tanods and was detained at the Mabolo Police while it took until yesterday morning for Leonardo to surrender, as he admitted he was scared.

Dela Peña said after hearing a burst of gunfire, she felt a numb on her right shoulder, adding that she realized that she was hit when a slug fell beside her.

She said nobody bothered to bring her to the hospital, but it was fortunate that there was a Mandaue City police car, which brought her to the Cebu City Medical Center.

The suspected young snatcher, on the other hand, was found to have a standing robbery case.- Ryan P. Borinaga