Suspect killed in gun scuffle w/ cop chief

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – A suspect in a shooting incident in La Libertad, Negros Oriental, was killed in a scuffle when he allegedly tried to grab the M-16 armalite rifle from the town police chief.

The suspect, Joram Camero Gaceta, 33, a resident of Brgy. Canggabo in La Libertad, died upon arrival at a hospital in nearby Guihulngan City due to a bullet wound in his head, a police report said.

Joram allegedly grappled with responding policemen and managed to take hold of the M-16 rifle of La Libertad Police chief Eric Errol Besario. The armalite accidentally went off in the process, hitting the suspect in the chin, a police report said.

Initial police investigation showed that Joram and his younger brother, Crisanto, had a heated argument with a certain Juanito Carlos at Brgy. Mandapaton, La Libertad. One of the brothers allegedly fired at Carlos, who sustained a bullet graze and was later brought to the hospital.

Tanods then responded and pacified the argument but the Gaceta brothers later reportedly proceeded to look for Carlos. The police eventually got a report that Joram was hiding inside Carlos’ house while Crisanto escaped.

Besario and his men, upon arrival at Carlos’ house, were met with a group of men carrying stones and bladed weapons, apparently securing the house to make sure that Joram could not escape.

Joram, seeing the policemen, however jumped out of a window but the civilians caught up with him and then stoned and mauled him. The police then broke up the fracas, but Joram quickly got hold of Besario’s armalite, resulting in the scuffle and the accidental shooting, the police report said.

The La Libertad Police recovered from the dead Joram a .38 caliber revolver and some ammunitions, while the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office is investigating the circumstances behind the killing. —(FREEMAN)