Man goes berserk, shot by policeman

CEBU, Philippines - A man believed to be under the influence of drugs was shot in the leg by the police after he allegedly went berserk and tried to hack a responding police officer in Barangay Basak San Nicolas, Cebu City last Monday afternoon.

Rolando Hortillano, 46, of Sitio Panaghiusa in the same barangay, was allegedly high on drugs and had not slept for the past two days when the incident happened.

Senior Inspector Regino Maramag Jr., chief of the Mambaling Police Station, said they were called at around 4 p.m. on Monday to respond after Hortillano climbed up to the roof of his house bringing bolo and ice pick.

His family negotiated for him to come down but Hortillano refused. Even Councilor Dave Tumulak was ignored by him.

Maramag said Hortillano did not demand for anything but just warned everybody that he will hack anyone who comes near him. He also threatened to stab himself.

Two hours into the negotiation, a member of the Special Weapons and Tactics team, decided to climb up the roof and talk to Hortillano.

Senior Police Office 4 Leovil Singson negotiated for Hortillano to come down but the latter tried to hack him twice but missed. When Hortillano was about to strike Singson for the third time, the police officer shot him in the leg using his M16 Armalite rifle.

Hortillano fell off the roof and was rushed to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center. Maramag said Hortillano will be charged with direct assault, alarm and scandal and attempted homicide. — (FREEMAN)