As Tomas tags Sinas ‘Enemy of Cebu’: Balili buddies may be sacked

CEBU, Philippines — The two companions of  the late SPO1 Roderick Balili in their reported surveillance operation in Pinamungajan town last week may be suspended or dismissed from service if it proven they were part of the supposed accidental firing of a gun that killed Balili.

Police Regional Office - 7 spokesperson Reyman Tolentin said SPO1 Jonathan Buscato and PO1 Justine Padillo have been pulled out of the field and detailed at the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (RPHAU) while investigation into the incident is ongoing. Their firearms have also been recalled.

The Regional Investigation Detection and Management Division is conducting the investigation.

Balili died last Friday night after battling it out with two gunshot wounds in the chest.

The three cops were reportedly in Pinamungajan to conduct surveillance on a high-value target identified as Baselio Nilo Querante.

While they were reportedly on board their vehicle, a Toyota Altis, the Glock pistol Balili received from his companion reportedly fired accidentally when the vehicle hit a hump on the road.

Tolentin said they cannot disclose just yet who between Buscato and Padillo handed the gun over to Balili.

Tolentin echoed the statement of Senior Insp. Ricardo Tero, the deputy chief of Balili’s group, the Regional Special Operations Group, that Balili has mentioned having modified his service firearm.

"Ang kaning pusil puwede ni siya nga maniobrahon. Butangan nimo siya og piyesa para one click, mo-automatic siya  so ang imong single shot, mahimong double or triple shot," Tolentin said.

The story of the reported accidental shooting took a different complexion when allegations surfaced Balili was hit not by an accidental shooting but by an actual aim during a shootout in Carcar City during the ambush on Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency agent Von Rian Tecson.

It was alleged that Balili was actually the hitman in the ambush and he was the suspect Tecson hit during the shootout before he could escape and before Tecson died.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña is among those who do not believe the police narrative.

He told PRO-7 Director Debold Sinas: “General, don’t think the Cebuanos are stupid. We’re not stupid. You’re making it clear that you are the enemy of Cebu.”

He challenged PRO-7 to produce the car Balili’s team reportedly used, as well as the autopsy report on Balili and have the slugs recovered from his body matched to the firearm of Tecson.

“I challenge the general to produce the car where he (Balili) was shot. Produce the car. They’re in the position to cover up everything. You have to get the slugs from the body and match it a pistol of the PDEA agent, it will match. I’m almost sure. But they’re in the position to switch-switch,” the mayor said yesterday.

Osmeña also questioned why no ambulance responded to the “accidental firing” because medics could have given Balili first aid while on the way to the hospital.

“It’s not accidental firing. That’s ridiculous. That just proves that the policemen are involved. And he was not shot twice, he was shot thrice – one in the arm and two in the body. That came from someone inside the operating room. You cannot shoot yourself accidentally with a Glock, believe me…. especially two times. I have a Glock. And I’ve known firearms for the longest time. It’s the safest pistol,” he said.

Sinas has said there is no truth to the allegations and that it was just a coincidence that the two incidents happened at about the same time.

Tolentin said they cannot control the public’s perception of the police.

“It’s normal to the police to be subject to that negative perception. You win some, you lose some. We just have to prove our work in the coming days," Tolentin said.

Escape vehicle

Meanwhile, the Land Transportation Office -7 has no record of the maroon Pajero with plate number GBH-753 that was reportedly used as the getaway vehicle of the suspects in Tecson’s ambush.

“No record was found… It’s highly possible nga dili to mao nga plate number. I don’t think they would do it also (use the original plate number),” LTO-7 Director Victor Caindec told reporters yesterday.

While LTO-7 has not received reports of manufacturers of fake plates here, Caindec said there are temporary plates printed.

“We haven’t received any reports of someone producing replicas, however, temporary plates are printed anywhere kay temporary plate man na sila,” he said. — With Mae Clydyl L. Avila (FREEMAN)