Cops kill massacre suspect

MANILA, Philippines – The principal suspect in the shooting spree that killed eight people and wounded six others last Sunday night in Calamba City in Laguna was shot dead yesterday afternoon during an alleged shootout with policemen.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. said suspect Bernabe Fiesta was killed in a shootout with arresting police officers at the house of his uncle, retired Senior Police Officer 4 Florencio Peria, in Barangay Hornalan in Calamba.

Investigators said Peria, who was earlier placed under police custody, would also be charged after it was established that the M-16 rifle used by Fiesta in the shooting belonged to the retired policeman.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome said Fiesta allegedly resisted arrest when police operatives tried to accost him at Peria’s house, resulting in a brief shootout with the arresting officers.

Razon said the raiding team also recovered the M-16 rifle that Fiesta used in the shooting spree that killed Dennis Balisong, 29; his twin daughters Gladys and Gladyn, 7; Gerry Pili, 49; Gloria Pili, 39; Mary Jane Pili, 12; Sarah Pili, 9; and Julian Pili, 4.

The wounded victims who were treated at the San Jose Hospital were Dennis’ wife Marina Balisong, 31; son Denmark Balisong, 5; Aurelio Abanilla, 52; Vicente Redondo, 42; Cherry Mae Pili, 17; and Erica Pili, 8.

Police said Fiesta, a native of Kidapawan City in North Cotabato, was a caretaker at the vegetable farm of Peria in Barangay Hornalan.

Fiesta’s victims were farmers working for a local politician in Barangay Hornalan.

Investigators said that Fiesta had an old grudge against the victims, who allegedly humiliated him constantly.

Several rifle magazines earlier recovered near the house of the victims have Peria’s initials and surname.

During the interrogation Peria, who retired only last year, denied that he owned the rifle used by the suspect, but when confronted with the evidence, the retired policeman admitted that he owned the rifle.

Peria later told investigators that Fiesta stole his rifle and he denied any involvement in the killings.

Razon said that charges would still be pursued against Peria.

Police have filed multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder charges against Fiesta and Peria.

Meanwhile, Rep. Edno Joson of the first district of Nueva Ecija, author of House Bill 2206 that seeks a total gun ban policy, urged stricter measures on gun possession and ownership.

“Only law enforcement agents and public officers should be allowed to carry firearms,” Joson said.

“Illegal possession of firearms should be directly addressed and violators of the law should be dealt with the highest penalty to avoid gun abuse and end violent crimes stemming from loose and unlicensed firearms,” he said.

Joson said his bill is now pending at the House committee on public order and safety, headed by Rep. Rodolfo Antonino of the fourth district of Nueva Ecija. There is an urgent need to re-visit the campaign for a gun-less society in the light of the unabated crimes in the country. He lamented that while there is a gun regulating body, there are still violent incidents, not to mention improper use of guns and other firearms.

Under the Joson bill, entitled An Act providing for a Total Gun Ban Policy and the Use of Non-lethal Weapons as substitute by the PNP, such policy would mean lesser abuses and unnecessary killings of civilians and suspects by law enforcers.

Non-lethal weapons refer to devices, paraphernalia, equipment, gadgets or similar devices that are non-life threatening which are used to disable, paralyze or to shock a person to submission or to yield to law enforcement authorities.

“Such non-lethal weapons may include, among others, teargas devices, electric prods, chemical sprays, rubber bullets or other similar devices, gadgets and equipment,” Joson said.

When implemented, only members of the on-duty uniformed law enforcement agency shall be allowed to carry short firearms outside of residence, and the Permit to Carry Firearms Outside of Residence being issued to civilian gun holders will be stopped.

Officials of the Association of Firearms Dealers (AFAD) expressed concern that once HB 2206 of Joson is signed into law, their businesses would be directly affected since the bill aims to stop the sale of deadly weapons to the public.

Gina Angcangco, a representative from firearms dealer Armscor, reminded the House committee on public order and safety that even the US government allows its civilians to own firearms, to protect their family and their homes. 

Firearms enthusiasts and AFAD officials stressed that a total gun ban will be more dangerous because civilians, particularly those whose lives are in imminent danger from criminals, would only become defenseless.

On the other hand, Nandy Pacheco of the Gunless Society is supportive of the Joson bill.

“For those who believe in gun control, no explanation is necessary. But for those who do not believe, no explanation is possible,” Pacheco said. With Delon Porcalla, Christina Paguinto, Jose Miguel Reyes