Cop shoots, arrests man who evaded checkpoint

CEBU, Philippines - A man was injured after he was shot by a policeman who he tried to shoot while eluding a checkpoint Monday in Barangay Pahina Central, Cebu City.

Joel Catambacan, 40, was wounded in his leg and got arrested after he tried to escape from a checkpoint along Colon Street set up by Carbon policemen.

Investigation revealed that while the policemen were conducting a checkpoint in the area, they spotted Catambacan driving a motorcycle without wearing a helmet.

Catambacan made a U-turn to allegedly evade the checkpoint but he was stopped by Police Officer 3 Bryan Bolongan.

Bolongan tried to hold Catambacan but the suspect resisted and sped off instead.

The suspect allegedly drew a cal. 38 revolver and aimed it at Bolongan, prompting the police officer to shoot him using an M16 rifle.

Catambacan drove towards a dark alley, but was eventually cornered by the pursuing police officers.

He was placed under arrest and was brought to Cebu City Medical Center due to his injury.

The suspect, in an interview, claimed that he made a U-turn because he was not wearing a helmet. He added that the motorcycle, which was owned by his mother, was not registered and he was not bringing a driver’s license that night.

He, however, kept mum when asked about the recovered firearm.

The suspect is now detained at Carbon Police Station stockade and will be facing a charge for violation of the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition.

Killed in Argao

Meanwhile, a 25-year-old man died after he was shot by a beach resort watchman whom he had an argument with Monday night in Barangay Poblacion, Argao, Cebu.

Dindo Kintanar was pronounced dead on arrival at Isidro Kintanar Memorial Hospital after sustaining a single gunshot wound to his right armpit.

Suspect Mariovic Narca, a native of Leyte and a neighbor of Kintanar, is now being hunted down after he escaped.

Police Officer 3 Jerome Gerosaga of Argao Police Station said that based on the investigation, Kintanar was driving a motorcycle when he saw Narca allegedly looking at him, prompting him to ask the suspect.

“Nilaag ning biktima, nilabay sa beach resort. Nagkomprontasi ni sila, iyang gipangutana ang suspek, ‘nganong tan-naw-tan-aw ka? Tigas ka?” Gerosaga said.

Kintanar sped off after a heated argument with Narca, but returned and figured in another argument with the suspect.

At this juncture, the suspect took a gun and shot the victim twice.

The victim was hit once on his armpit.

Responding police officers failed to locate the fleeing suspect.

Gerosaga believed that the victim and the suspect may have previous grudge.

“Basin naa na ni sila’y daang bikil kay nganong moingon man siya nga ‘nganong tan-naw tan-aw man ka? Tigas ka?’” the police officer surmised.

The police are conducting a hot pursuit operation for the arrest of the suspect. — (FREEMAN)