Policeman shoots ex-civilian volunteer

CEBU, Philippines – A former member of the Civilian Volunteer Organization died after he was shot by a policeman in Barangay Cantuod, Balamban at 4 p.m. last Saturday.

Agapito Cuizon, 34, was shot in the stomach by Police Officer 3 Artemio Tumakay, Jr., 50, of the Bogo Police Station's Cebu-Criminal Investigation and Detection Team. 

SPO3 Arvie Banate, Jr. of the Balamban Police said Cuizon was driving a motorcycle with his wife and one-year-old child as passengers while Tumakay, who was with a friend Dennis Paradero as passenger, was driving from the opposite direction.

When two motorcycles met on the road, Paradero and Cuizon started an argument. The two have been harboring ill feelings against each other, according to reports.

Cuizon moved to park his motorcycle along the road. He then disembarked and positioned himself at the middle of the road and fired shots at Paradero and the police-man, who were still on board the motorcycle moving away from Cuizon. He missed.

This led Tumakay to park his motorcycle at the roadside to seek cover. He identified himself as a policeman but Cuizon continued shooting, prompting the policeman to retaliate.

Tumakay hit the victim on the right part of his abdomen, the bullet exiting at the back. Cuizon died right away.

During the incident, Manolito Arpajo who was parking his motorcycle at the area was also hit on the right arm.

Arpajo was taken to the Balamban District Hospital for treatment while Tumakay surrendered to the responding policeman of Balamban. He also turned over his cali-ber 9mm pistol with a magazine loaded with six live rounds, including his memorandum receipt, and PNP Identification card.

The Balamban police recovered five 9mm empty shells and five empty shells of .45 caliber.

Tumakay said he had no knowledge about the personal grudges of the victim and his friend. He said he only acted in self defense when he shot the victim.

He was submitted to a paraffin test and is now detained while awaiting charges to be filed. (FREEMAN)