Tanod shoots man then tries to cover up

A man was accidentally shot by a barangay tanod who was responding to an alarm during a benefit dance last Saturday night in barangay Marangob, Bogo City.

Richard Artes, 31, is now in serious condition after he was accidentally hit by a stray bullet fired by Mario Muaña, 39, the chief tanod of Marangob.

PO3 Allan Dosdos of the Bogo City Police Station yesterday said Muaña appeared before the police station bringing with him a handcuffed person and alleged that the said person, who was later identified as Rindo Dalanguid, was drunk and accidentally shot Artes.

Dosdos then requested Muaña to just stay inside the police station as he wanted to conduct further investigation.

He then went to the Bogo City District Hospital to check on Artes, but since the victim was in the operating room he went to talk to his relatives who claimed it was the chief tanod himself who accidentally fired his .45 cal. pistol when he responded to a commotion during the benefit dance and hit Artes.

Dosdos said he then proceeded to the crime scene and from there he was also able to get statements from witnesses who confirmed that it was Muaña who accidentally shot Artes who was playing billiards in a nearby store.

Dosdos said that since the testimonies of the witnesses at the crime scene coincide with the statements of the victim’s relatives he then returned the police station and confronted Muaña who later confessed his deed.

Muaña said he fired in self-defense as Dalanguid was trying to grab his gun after Muaña responded to the trouble he was causing during the dance.

But Dalanguid claimed that when the commotion has started, he immediately left the benefit dance and walked towards the nearby store where Artes was playing billiards.

He alleged Muaña still kept on following him as he walked home and kept on aiming his gun at him that later accidentally discharged and hit the victim.

Dosdos said Artes was shot in the right side of his chest with the bullet exiting out the left side of his back.

Muaña also confessed that before going to the police station he threw his gun away in barangay Panday. Dosdos went to the area and was able to recover the gun still loaded with six live rounds.

Cases for violation of the election gun ban and reckless imprudence resulting to serious physical injuries will be filed against Muaña today.  — Flor Z. Perolina/BRP