Involved cops restricted to camp; probe underway

ORMOC CITY, Philippines - A day after the infamous June 20 shooting incident, which resulted in the death of two persons and the wounding of five others, including two children, all members of the police arresting team were ordered restricted to camp.

Senior Supt. Nilo Donayre, director of the Ormoc City Police Office (OCPO), also ordered the 11-man team, including two officials, to undergo paraffin tests and surrender their issued firearms for ballistic examinations.

The CIDG has started its investigation to determine if there were lapses on the part of the policemen in what was a simple operation to arrest a suspect that ended with a bloodied and tragic conclusion. Donayre has directed further the involved policemen to cooperate with the probe.

The two fatalities were Danilo Dañas, the OCPO's no. 2 most wanted man who the police was about to arrest, and Iris Dañas who was inside the house at Brgy. Liberty of this city, where the incident took place.

Superintendent Neil Montaño, chief of the Ormoc City Public Safety Company (OCPS), told The FREEMAN that Danilo's body was also subjected to paraffin test and yielded positive results in both hands.

Inspector Ariel Nuñez, the team leader, was also found positive of powder burns, and an empty shell of his service shotgun was also found in the crime scene.

Another source, who requested anonymity, told The FREEMAN that forensic experts identified only two kinds of firearms, based on the bullet holes and slugs that riddled the house, and these were M14 and M16 rifles. 

Based on a police report, a copy of which was obtained by The FREEMAN, addressed to PRO-8 director, there was a shootout between the arresting team and Danilo, the suspect.

The report narrated thus: Danilo, wearing a brown ball cap, blue jacket and maong pants, was in a drinking session at the porch of the house of the barangay treasurer when approached by another team member, Insp. Mark Nalda, who was in plain clothes.

The suspect upon recognizing the policeman hurriedly stood up and pulled a gun from his waist on his way inside the house. Nalda then shouted, "Danny, Danny ayaw dagan mga pulis mi," but the latter allegedly aimed his gun instead to the policeman.

Seconds after, a shot was fired from inside the house prompting PO1 Randolph De Leon, who was seven meters away, to shoot back to cover Nalda. Danny then withdrew inside the house while returning fire. A volley of fire took place but lasted only three seconds.

Nalda said he shouted again, "Si Danny lang amo tuyo, ang walay labot gawas, ayaw mo kahadlok, mga pulis mi." Some people scampered out, and when the team entered to clear the area, they found six wounded people who they immediately brought to the hospital using the police vehicle. Iris, one of the six wounded, died later at the hospital.

Of the five injured, two were children, aged 2 and 8. The others were Emelyn Calub, 33, Ailen Dañas, 17, and Leonides Negura, 28.

Danilo was earlier reported to have escaped but a barangay official later took him to the hospital due to a bullet wound in the stomach. He expired hours after.

It was learned that Donayre has been visiting the injured victims since day 1 at the hospital and secretly helping them cope with their immediate needs.

As of yesterday, a confidential source told The FREEMAN that the accumulated amount given by Donayre and some officials to the victims has already reached P160,000, which was handed out without any receipt but in the presence of Brgy. Chairman Demeterio Dañas and Salome, a former village chief. 

Montayre, according to the source, has also convinced all OCPO personnel to allocate their city allowances and donate these to the victims. — THE FREEMAN