Cop to face homicide raps for killing berserk man

CEBU, Philippines - In spite of his self-defense claim, a Cebu City policeman will still have to face a criminal complaint for homicide after killing a man who was running amok at a subdivision in Barangay Bacayan last Friday.

Homicide investigator Ruth Violango said that Police Officer 2 Rodel Abejuela, 27, assigned at the Talamban Police Station will be charged with homicide for killing Jose Ligario, 23, of Hidden View Subdivision in the said barangay.

The homicide section is filing the case in spite of Abejuela’s claim that he was only acting in self-defense and to save the others who would have been victims of Ligario.

“Let the fiscal decide based on the witnesses accounts and evidences,” Violango said.

Abejuela together with the other operatives from Talamban Police Station responded to a “drunk person” alarm at Villa Leyson Subdivision last Friday. Abejuela’s team found Ligario chasing people with a gaff.

Abejuela said he tried to pacify Ligario but the latter attacked him instead. According to Abejuela, Ligario tried to hurt him with the gaff thrice but he was able to avoid the thrusts.

 Abejuela said he was forced to shoot Ligario in the hand first but the latter became more aggressive in his attacks prompting him to fire more shots hitting Ligario in the chest and in the stomach.

Abejuela said, had he not shoot Ligario he could have been killed and a certain Thelma Omboy, whom Ligario was also chasing after.

Ligario allegedly attacked his friend Joel Valencia first after an argument over gaffs. Valencia was able to flee but Ligario went on amok, chasing anyone who comes along his way. (FREEMAN)