Case eyed vs. tanod for death of teenager

Police will be filing homicide charges against the chief tanod of barangay Ermita after he was positively identified by the father of the 14-year-old boy killed in alleged indiscriminate firing in the Carbon market that also wounded another man last Sunday.

Barangay Ermita tanod chief Beltran Bosque voluntarily surrendered to the police assisted by Ermita barangay captain Felicisimo Rupinta and brought him to the Homicide Section office where he was identified by Ananias Anter, father of Junard Anter who was hit by a stray bullet in the chest and killed.

Homicide Section chief, Sr. Insp. Mario Monilar told reporters yesterday that the father positively identified Bosque as among those people carrying guns after his son was shot.

Before the shooting happened, some Ermita barangay tanods were chasing a man who reportedly robbed a vendor in Carbon market.

It was later learned through the Homicide Section that the tanods were chasing after Wilson Bagol, 27.

Bagol was also hit in the left thigh but one of the bullets also hit Junard who was standing beside his father at that time.

Earlier yesterday, Rupinta brought anti-crime volunteer Alex Dimaalip, 24, but Ananias reportedly did not recognize him as one of those men with guns at the scene.

Dimaalip was later freed and cleared by the police after Ananias identified Bosque.

Ananias demanded to have other tanods or anticrime volunteers at that time in the area to be presented to him for lineup prompting the police to ask Rupinta’s help.

Last Sunday, Ananias mistakenly identified tanod Alvin Mahilum who is also large and has a similar build with that of the tanod who shot his son.

Bosque was not present during the lineup in the barangay hall.

He also said, the large man that he later identified as Bosque was the same person that he asked for help in bringing his son to the hospital.

Bosque denied carrying a gun at that time and merely responded with only a handheld radio.  He also he also heard of a man at the scene asking for help to bring his son to the hospital prompting him to ask a private multicab parked in the area to drive the boy to CCMC.

Ananias also said he is apprehensive in filing charges against the tanods as Rupinta might take back his promise to shoulder the burial expenses of his son, but Rupinta yesterday said the barangay will still help him no matter what.

Bosque was arrested and made to undergo a paraffin test for possible gunpowder residue before the PNP Crime Laboratory yesterday.  He is now detained at the Carbon police station.

But while the city does not officially issue firearms to tanods, Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday said he has nothing against tanods and police volunteers having firearms.  The mayor, however, said it maybe time that the tanods and members of the barangay intelligence networks must be made to undergo training on the proper handling of guns.  — Edwin Ian Melecio with Joeberth M. Ocao/BRP