Tanod shoots actor dead: Movie shoot turns into real shooting

CEBU, Philippines – It might have been a scene straight out of a movie. It was, but not to a barangay tanod, who thought it was for real.

A Cebuano actor, who was dressed as a gunman riding on a motorcycle, was shot dead by a tanod of barangay Parian, who acted too quickly upon seeing a man who was literally 'dressed to kill' the way the vigilantes of Cebu have been described by witnesses.

The victim was identified as Kirk Abella, 32 years old of barangay Punta Princesa, who was one of the actors in a movie that was being filmed late Saturday night.

Abella was playing the role of a killer and wore a bonnet to cover his face and was armed with a toy gun when he was shot by Edgar Cuizon, 51, of J.C. Zamora St., Parian.

Cuizon said that he did not know that a movie was being shot in the area when he spotted Abella and thought the man riding the motorcycle was about to kill someone for real.

The film being shot is entitled "Going Somewhere." It is a project of Alan Lyddiard Film based in London, United Kingdom.

Lyddiard himself picked Ibarra St. corner J.C. Zamora St. as a perfect place to shoot that scene of their movie, which was supposed to be about a drive-by shooting.

The shooting of the actor happened shortly after the director shouted "action."

The victim was hit on the back and was rushed to the Perpetual Succour Hospital, but was declared dead on arrival.

Cuizon used a homemade caliber .357 revolver. He surrendered the weapon along with five live ammunition to Sr. Insp. Pepito Polestratos, who led the PNP personnel deployed in the area for security and crowd control.

Contrary to his claim that he was unaware of the film shoot, Cuizon was reportedly informed about it along with the other tanods, said Chief Insp. Alexis Relado, chief of Parian Police Station.

Cuizon was reportedly at the residence of barangay captain-elect Boy Nuñez, when somebody reported to them that an armed person was spotted.

The tanod reportedly went to the Parian Police Station and was told that there was the shooting of a film.

"Gi-warningan na 'na siya daan. Gipasabot siya sa desk officer nga naa'y nag-shooting diha. Basin ang imong pasabot nga armed person kanang ga-taping diha. Mga artista na sila. Gikuyogan pa siya ni Sr. Insp. Polestratos padung didto," the police station chief said.

Cuizon, however, denied being told about the film that was being shot.

He claimed to be sleeping below the barangay captain-elect's house when a man informed him about an armed person. He said he was resting to get ready to report to the barangay hall for his duty at 10 p.m.

He immediately went to the area. He said he did not bother to go first to the police station.

Upon arriving at the crime scene, he saw a man wearing a bonnet and was armed with a gun. He said that he shouted at the man to stop and identified himself as a tanod, but was ignored and the actors sped off as the director had shouted "action."

"Naguyod nuon ko sa ilang motor nya paghangad nako kay gation man ang iyang pusil sa akoa, mao tong mingpusil na lang ko," the suspect said while showing his wound on his right leg.

Asked why he has a firearm, the suspect said he only borrowed it, but he refused to identify the owner. Aside from the gun ban currently implemented, the law prohibits barangay tanods to bring firearms if they do not have the necessary permits and license.

"Alangan man og magdala ka og batuta nga armas man ang dala sa gi-report," said Cuizon, who has been a tanod for five years.

The suspect said he never knew that there was a movie being shot that time. He also allegedly did not see any policemen in the area when he arrived.

"Nagtuo jud ko na mamusil to siya. Nagtuo jud ko nga tinuod," he said while shaking his head.

But Relado said he dispatched at least six policemen in the area for the shooting of the movie.

"Iyaha sad nang alegasyon to defend himself. Denial man jud ang weakest form of evidence," Relado said.

Relado said Beverly Talledo, one of the producers, properly coordinated with them by sending him a letter asking for two policemen to secure the area while they were shooting the said scene.

"Duha ra gani ila gipangayo pero akong gi-unom kay busy street ra ba na dihang dapita nya considering na international film gud maong gitagaan g'yud nako og igong personnel with an official. Naa pa gani naka-park nga marked vehicle didto with the blinkers on," Relado said.

PO3 Geoffrey Gutual of the Homicide Section said charges of homicide and violation of the gun ban will be the possible charges that will be filed against the suspect. -/NLQ (FREEMAN)