Policeman killed in Talamban

CEBU, Philippines - A lone gunman shot a policeman dead at the roadside in sitio Tigbao, Barangay Talamban, Cebu City last Tuesday night.

Police Officer 3 Wilfredo Songcal Datu, assigned in the Regional Police Holding and Accounting Unit of the Police Regional Office 7, died of a single gunshot wound on the left side of his back, the bullet exiting on the right side of his stomach.

The 49-year-old policeman, who was reportedly on off-duty, lives in Talamban Proper. He was in sitio Tigbao where he allegedly owns a store.

Datu was standing at a roadside store and was about to pay for his dinner at 6:30 pm when a man shot him from the back.

The assailant, who did not bother to conceal his face, ran several meters away and boarded on a get-away motorcycle driven by a cohort. The two then sped off towards Talamban proper.

Residents in the area rushed PO3 Datu to the North General Hospital for possible treatment.

Fifteen minutes later, the attending physician declared the policeman dead.

SPO2 Teodoro Lumanas and his companions from the Crime Scene Investigation Unit (CSIU) recovered two empty shells and a slug of a caliber .45 pistol from the crime scene.

SPO4 Alejandro Sarvida, also of CSIU, recovered Datu’s service firearm, a caliber .45 with two magazines packed with 13 live ammunitions.

CSIU personnel also recovered Datu’s three cellular phones, wallet  which contained P4,000 cash and other personal belongings that they later turned over to the victim’s daughter, Jennifer Datu Miñoza.

Senior Supt. Mariano Natuel, Jr., officer-in-charge of the Cebu City Police Office, said they are focusing on illegal drugs as the most possible motive behind the attack on the police officer.  — (FREEMAN)