Tuburan shooting a legit operation

CEBU, Philippines - After policemen of Tuburan town shot dead a man and arrested his relatives who reportedly started trouble during a benefit dance in barangay Macopa the other day, Senior Supt. Jesus Gaquing of the Cebu Provincial Police Office, in an interview yesterday, said that based on his report it is a legitimate operation.

He even commended those policemen who responded to the said alarm protecting people in the area. “Huwat pa lang ko sa report nila para ako sad iduso sa higher headquarter, “Gaquing said.

Should complaints regarding the incident reach his office, he would have the matter investigated further and vowed that due process would be observed.

But in his report, it was learned that the person killed and those arrested were noted to be troublemakers in the said place.

It was earlier reported that at past 11 p.m. last Sunday, 42-year-old Bombito Sampalan, a barangay tanod of the area, together with his brother, Rolando Sampalan, 30, and his sons, Reynante, 18, and Jake (not his real name), 16, arrived at the dance hall to take part in the merriment in the upcoming fiesta.

Minutes later, Rolando allegedly had a heated altercation against one Jonel Katiwalaan, a resident of nearby barangay Apalan. At the height of their verbal tussle, Rolando pulled out a .357 revolver, tucked in his waist, which started the commotion.

Jeremia Molijon, a teacher, who is also a resident of the said place, together with two other tanods then stopped the benefit dance, causing an argument between Molijon and Bombito. It was then that the Sampalan family allegedly got irked, went wild and successively fired their guns.

Another teacher, Ramil Lubanga, called for police assistance at around 1 a.m. hoping to pacify the commotion.

Police officers led by PO2 Bismark Babiera, who responded to the alarm, saw Reynante sitting on a bamboo bench inside the disco area. But when the suspect saw the authorities, he allegedly pulled out his .38 caliber revolver and aimed it at PO1 Joseph Sharon Esmero, prompting the other police officers to fire warning shots.

However, instead of surrendering, Reynante allegedly tried to fire the gun at the policemen. When the suspect turned his attention to a certain “Brigoli”, Esmero wrestled with the former and locked his gun to prevent him from firing it.

In the middle of commotion, Brigoli shot Reynante with the use of an M16 rifle hitting him in the back, left portion of his body.

When Jake saw the body of Reynante lying on the ground on a pool of blood, he allegedly ran towards his brother, took the latter’s firearm and tried to shoot Esmero but he was quickly stopped by one PO1 Arnoco who neutralized him in the process by hitting him in the left buttock.

Jake and his father Bombito were arrested but Rolando was able to elude arrest during the commotion.

Authorities recovered two .38 caliber revolvers, five live bullets and five empty shells from the area.

Reynante was declared dead on arrival at the nearby hospital while Jake was rushed to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center here in Cebu City. Their father is now detained at the Tuburan Police Station while a pursuit operation is being conducted against their uncle.

Police officers would file illegal possession of firearms, grave threats and indiscriminate firing against the suspects. – Gabriel C. Bonjoc/MEEV   (FREEMAN NEWS)