Cop robbed, shot dead

CEBU, Philippines - A policeman assigned at the Parian Police Station in Cebu City died while his companion, a policewoman was injured after two unidentified persons robbed them in Trinidad town, Bohol last Wednesday, December 24.

In a telephone interview, Police Officer 2 Geriper Cajes of Trinidad Police Station said that the fatality was PO1 John Bryan Joseph Bazar, 26 while the policewoman was PO1 Maryjane Bebiro, who is assigned at Regional Public Safety Battalion 7 detachment in Alicia town, also in Bohol.

Initial investigation revealed that Bazar and Bebiro were riding motorcycle coming from Ubay town and heading towards Trinidad town when another motorcycle drove alongside them at 10 p.m.

“Nagkuyog ni sila gikan sa Ubay padulong sa Trinidad nagsakay og motor.  Gitaparan sila og motor, gitionan, dayong declare og holdup,” Cajes said.

After declaring a holdup, the two men, who were not wearing any masks, then kicked the police officers’ motorcycle, causing it to crash.

Bebiro, according to Cajes, then heard a burst of gunfire before the two men approached her and took her bag, which contained her police identification card, ATM cards, and wallet with P2,000 cash.

Bazar, who was shot in the right portion of the chest, did not make it alive to the hospital.

Cajes said the robbers not wearing any masks suggests that they may not be residents of Trinidad, Bohol.

Senior Superintendent Paul Labra II, Police Regional Office-7 Regional Intelligence Division chief agreed that the motive for the killing was just robbery.

Labra said he already sent investigators to help gather information in identifying the perpetrators, whom Bebiro did not recognize.

Senior Superintendent Conrad Capa, PRO-7 deputy regional director for operations and Cebu City Police Office officer-in-charge, said it saddened him that a police officer died barely two hours before Christmas.

He said he was waiting for the report from Parian Police Station Chief Ryan Acidera Devaras regarding the incident. — (FREEMAN)