Charcoal vendor says cop shot him

CEBU, Philippines - A police official is now detained at the Cebu City Police Office holding cell after he allegedly shot a charcoal vendor the other day in Sitio Buwanan, Barangay Pung-ol Sibugay, Cebu City.

The suspect was identified by the Homicide Section of CCPO as Insp. Samuel Panilagao, 49, of Barangay Guadalupe, commander of the 2nd Coy of Regional Public Safety Battalion based in the town of Moalboal.

Panilagao allegedly shot and wounded charcoal vendor Rannie Ragodos, 34 a resident of Pung-ol Sibugay.

Homicide Section personnel SPO4 Alex Dacua and PO2s Edario Manatad and Joedan Batucan said that the victim and his brother Gregorio were trying to cut branches from trees on a lot owned by Panilagao.

The caretaker of the suspect, Michael Ortiz, 44, a resident of Sitio Buntores, Barangay San Nicolas, Cebu City, shouted at them saying: “Ngano namutol man mo og kahoy?”

The victim then answered: “Mga sanga ra”.

After the exchange Ortiz told Panilagao some men were cutting trees on his lot. Panilagao allegedly went to the house of Ragodos with a pistol and shot him in the back.

The victim was rushed to the Cebu City Medical Center where doctors said he is in danger of being paralyzed because the bullet hit his spinal cord.

Panilagao went to CCPO and talked to Sr. Insp. Pablo Cabildo, chief of the Cebu City Public Safety Company, formerly the Cebu City Mobile Group.

Cabildo said that before Panilagao arrived, he already received a shooting alarm report from his team in Sibugay. Cabildo said that Panilagao was there to make a report about the trees in his lot being cut by some residents in the place and not about the shooting alarm.

He said that after realizing Panilagao was the primary suspect of the shooting alarm he stood and served as the arresting officer of the police official.

Together with the Homicide Section personnel, Cabildo said they brought Panilagao to CCMC for a liquor test. It was there where the victim pointed to Panilagao as his assailant.

Marissa Ragodos, the victim’s wife, also went to CCPO and positively pointed out Panilagao as the one who shot her husband.

Cabildo said that Panilagao denied committing the crime.

The suspect surrendered his service firearm, a .45 cal. pistol with its muzzle sealed with packaging tape.

“Dili ta makaingon nga mao tong armasa gigamit, puwede man sad ilisan,” said Cabildo.

Panilagao and Ortiz are now facing frustrated murder charges.  – /BRP (THE FREEMAN)