“Mentally-ill” porter disarms, bites guard

CEBU, Philippines - A porter of a private wharf was arrested after he disarmed and bit a security guard and another porter past 4 p.m. on Sunday in Barangay San Sebastian, Samboan town.

Police believe that Virgilio De Torres, a native of Tukoran, Zamboanga del Sur, was having a nervous breakdown when he started getting rowdy on board a ship to Dapitan City as he was waiting for the other porters to board the same vessel.

Police Officer 1 Cesar Catubig, desk officer of Samboan Police, said Danilo Rafols, 44, of Barangay Calatagan and Leonardo Omaña, 29, of Barangay Cabotungan, security guards of Saint Jude Security Agency, and Cerilo Miramon, 27, suffered injuries due during the commotion allegedly started by De Torres.

Catubig said Omaña had with him his shotgun and was conducting a security check on board the ship when De Torres attacked and disarmed him.

De Torres allegedly took a piece of wood and tried to hit Omaña but the latter dodged it. Rafols saw the incident and rushed to help Omaña.

Miramon, a porter, also saw the commotion and went to help the security guards seeing they were both in a disadvantageous position. However, even with his help, they could not subdue De Torres.

The three of them wrestled with De Torres until they had him cornered. But even if the three were able to pin him down, De Torres was still able to bite Omaña and Miramon.

The three tied the hands of De Torres and turned him over to the police.

De Torres reportedly told the police that he heard a man telling him that he will take a pale to catch De Torres’ blood. De Torres also told the police that he saw his coffin inside the ship.

Catubig suspects that De Torres has a mental problem because he kept on telling them that someone was going to kill him if he goes out of jail.

“Problema gyud ni sir ug dili ni mogawas, kay ingon pa niya mamatay lagi daw siya, naa daw mopatay niya,” Catubig said.

The wharf’s management and the victims are not keen on filing charges against De Torres considering his condition.

Catubig said if no one will file a case within the reglementary period, De Torres will be released and that police might also turn him over to his family in Mindanao.  (FREEMAN)