‘Mentally-ill’ man runs amuck, shot dead by cop

CEBU, Philippines - A man believed to be mentally-ill was shot dead by police yesterday afternoon after he allegedly threw stones and tried to hack a cop using a bolo past 5 p.m. in Barangay Sta. Cruz, Ronda town.          

Jolito Marabilles, 35, was declared dead on arrival at the Barili District Hospital after he suffered gunshot wounds to his body.

Police Officer 3 Joselito de Aquino, desk officer of Ronda Police Station, said that on Wednesday afternoon, the station received a report and request for police assistance after a man, believed to be mentally-ill, ran amuck.

Aquino said Mirabilles went out of his house with a 15-inch bolo and went to his neighbor’s backyard and beheaded at least two fighting cocks.  PO3 Pepo Ansag responded to the alarm.  Past 5 p.m. Senior Police Officer 4 Bertulod Mansueto, PO3 Estanislao Avenido, and PO2 Virgilio Villamor arrived to back up PO3 Ansag.

Apparently agitated, Mirabilles attacked PO2 Villamor with his bolo but the police officer managed to elude and fired at him.

The police officers immediately brought Mirabilles to the Barili District Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.

The desk officer said that Mirabilles’ family does not intent to press charges against the police officers, but only asked them to shoulder the burial expenses.  (FREEMAN)