Policeman slain

 CEBU, Philippines - A policeman was shot dead by an unidentified assailant past 1 p.m. yesterday in Barangay Upper Lipata, Minglanilla town, over still undetermined reasons.

Police Officer 2 Omar Parages, presently assigned at the Police Community Relations of the Minglanilla Police Station, of Poblacion Ward 2, Minglanilla, died on the spot after suffering several gunshot wounds to the head and body.

Senior Inspector Richard Gadingan, Minglanilla Police Station chief, said that the policeman and his daughter just happened to pass by the place when he was shot by the assailant. He added that based on the initial investigation three men might have been involved in the incident, although only one of them did the actual killing.

However, a witness who refused to be named said that the victim was participating in an illegal cockfight when he was shot. He said that PO2 Parages was holding a fighting cock and was about to release it when he was shot the first time. After he fell to the ground the assailant allegedly shot him several times to make sure he would not live.

The witnesses said he heard three or four gunshots, but he and others did not see the perpetrators as they ran away for their own safety.  Another witness said that he was fixing the roof of his house and saw three people, including the assailant, passing through an alley near his house. The assailant was bringing a sling bag that investigators would later say belonged to PO2 Parages.

“Nakabantay ko nga murag sling bag sa pulis ang iyang dala, wala lang pud ko nagtagad kay abi nako parehas ra,” the witness said.

He added the older brother of the victim who is also a policeman, PO1 Niño Parages, assigned to the Boljoon Police Station, actually met the assailant at the small alley as he was rushing to the scene.

PO1 Parages asked the assailant if there was a shooting and the man said that one did happen nearby.

 “Ang gunman pa gyud ang napangutana niya, mitubag pud ang gunman nga ‘oo naa sa sulod’,” the witness said. He added he was not familiar with the perpetrators.

PO1 Parages would later complain it took Scene of the Crime Operations personnel more than two hours to get to the crime scene, during which they put up a tarp to protect his young brother’s body from the sun.

PO2 Parage’s wife, Arlene, and their two children also waited for the police to arrive at the crime scene.

Personnel of the Scene of the Crime Operations said while the victim was shot in his head and body, no slugs and shells were recovered from the crime scene, leading them to believe the assailant used a revolver.

The victim was previously assigned to the Dumanjug Police Station but was reassigned to the Minglanilla Police Station just over a year ago.

Arlene said that she does not know if her husband had enemies and or if he received any death threats.  — /BRP (FREEMAN)