Drug suspect wants to become “president”

CEBU, Philippines - After surviving a gunshot wound, a drug suspect who resisted arrest with a hand grenade in Tuburan town feels that he was given a second chance to become a leader of this country in the future.

Jonald ‘Empoy” Calaunan, 25, talked to the members of the media yesterday after he was discharged from the hospital. Calaunan promised to change for the better.

In fact, he said he dreams of becoming the future president of the Philippines, vowing to “right the wrong and make the right wrong.”

Calaunan was shot by PO1 Meverick Polotan, of Tuburan Police Station, Friday last week during a buy-bust operation after he pulled out a hand grenade to resist arrest.

Calaunan sustained a gunshot wound to his right thigh, prompting him to release the fragmentation grenade he was holding. The grenade exploded and injured Jiosias Jugan, 30, a tattoo artist that Calaunan has hired.

Calaunan said he did not really intend to throw the grenade at the policemen. According to him, he was only bluffing to scare off the arresting officers.  a

Calaunan said he bought the grenade from a friend in Danao City.

Tuburan Police Station chief Senior Inspector William Homoc said they have already filed criminal complaints against Calaunan before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.

The complaints include violations of sections 5, 11, and 12 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Homoc said that the tattoo artist is also planning to file a criminal complaint for frustrated homicide.

Homoc said they are also studying whether to file additional cases for resisting arrest.— (FREEMAN)