Punta Engaño poll violence: Cop to face gun ban, illegal possession charges

CEBU, Philippines – The police officer who claimed to have been fired upon by the barangay tanods of Punta Engaño Monday dawn was placed under arrest and will be charged for violation of the gun ban and illegal possession of firearms.

Senior Police Officer 1 Diogenes Carillo voluntarily went to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Monday morning to shed light on the incident but was instead placed under arrest for illegal possession of firearms and violation of the Comelec gun ban.

Carillo, who is assigned in Liloan, will also face administrative investigation why he was in Lapu-Lapu City when the police force was in red alert for the elections. Carillo claimed he was on his way to fetch his wife, a candidate for councilor in Punta Engaño, when six barangay tanods alleged armed with M-16 armalite rifles fired upon him.

Carillo said he was able to return fire and hit two of the tanods who are now confined at the Mactan Doctors Hospital. The tanods who were injured in the alleged exchange of gunfire are Remegio Batilo and Alejandro Beloria.

Batilo and Beloria were also placed under arrest by the members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group which is assisting the Lapu-Lapu City Police in the investigation of the case.

The two will be charged for murder because of the death of Junrey Sumalpong, driver of a candidate for barangay captain, Angel Rodriguez. Batilo and Beloria will also face frustrated murder over the injuries sustained by Carillo.

The tanods claimed that they were sent by Barangay Captain Lourdes Ibag to respond to the alleged presence of armed group engaged in vote-buying when they were ambushed by at least 15 armed men.

The police are looking into the possible involvement of Ibag and her challenger, Rodriguez.

A barangay councilman of Luyang, San Remegio was charged with frustrated murder after he allegedly shot a civilian for refusing to vote straight on his slate.

Kim Sanchez, 35, together with unidentified companions allegedly shot Douglas Cabiao, 50, resident of said place Sunday evening. - Ria Mae Y. Booc and Razel V. Cuizon, USJ-R Masscom Intern/FPL (FREEMAN)