Cop suspect in shooting positive in paraffin test

The policeman who allegedly shot a man dead in sitio Villagonzalo II, barangay Tejero, early Monday morning, was found positive for powder burns during a paraffin test conducted by the PNP Crime Laboratory yesterday.

P/Insp. Mario Monilar, chief of the Homicide Section of the Cebu City Police Office said that PO2 Israelito Aballe had gunpowder residue in his right hand, indicating that he may have fired a gun within the last 72 hours.

Renato Noble, 38, was shot dead along Alviola Street, barangay Tejero, Cebu City, and was rushed to the Cebu City Medical Center, but was declared dead on arrival.

The victim was shot in the back with the bullet exiting his left breast, he still managed to run home and ask for help from his common-law wife Teresita Nasayaw.

Before Noble died, he reportedly wrote his name and Aballe's name on a piece of cardboard with his signature and thumb mark. It was the victim's younger brother Rodillo who gave the victim something to write on.

Monilar said that the result of the paraffin test is a big help to the case.

Aballe did not submit himself to a drug test last Tuesday and the Mandaue City Police Office will decide if this warrants administrative charges. He is assigned to the Mandaue City Police Office Police Station 1 in barangay Centro.

A murder charge was already filed in court against Aballe last Wednesday.

They are also awaiting the results of the ballistic examination on Aballe's 9mm cal. pistol and the slug recovered from the crime scene.

Aballe has denied the accusations but confirmed he frequented the area as he used to stay there while he was still a student. - Norvie S. Misa