SWAT member charged for killing armed person

CEBU, Philippines - A member of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) was charged with homicide for killing a family driver whom he accosted for illegal possession of firearm.

Assistant city prosecutor Ernesto Narido indicted PO2 Michael Baylon for homicide after the latter waived his right to avail of a preliminary investigation. Narido has recommended P40,000 bail for Baylon’s temporary liberty.

The homicide section filed a case against Baylon over the death of Marvelon Villanueva, 37, last Tuesday. Baylon was charged despite Cebu City Police Office director Melvin Ramon Buenafe’s statement that the incident was in line of duty.

 Baylon and his buddy, PO2 Nemesio Paragasa, responded to an armed person alarm at the Taboan Public Market last Tuesday at 1:00 a.m.

A concerned citizen called for police assistance after the victim allegedly fired his gun at the public market. Mary Ricaplaza, 66, a fruit vendor at the Taboan Public Market, said that before the shooting incident Villanueva was seen brandishing his gun.

The victim allegedly told her that he is going to fire his gun but she told him to do it outside the public market. Ricaplaza said she saw the victim loaded his gun with live rounds of ammunition. Moments later she heard the victim fired his gun outside the market.

Baylon and Paragasa responded and looked for the person responsible for the illegal discharge of ammunition.

The policemen were told that the armed person has already escaped.

They were however provided with the description of the armed person. The policemen later spotted Villanueva along Panganiban Street prompting Baylon and his buddy to approach him.

However, as soon as they introduced themselves as policemen, Villanueva allegedly pulled out his gun and tried to shoot them. This prompted Baylon to shoot him in the chest. Villanueva died even before he was brought to the hospital by the responding paramedics from the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF).  (FREEMAN)