Cop sued for murder files counter-charge

CEBU, Philippines - Right after he was sued for five counts of attempted murder, PO3 Anselmo delos Santos also filed attempted murder charges against two men including barangay tanod Walter Anore, the brother of Mantalongon, Barili, Barangay captain Norman Anore before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.

In his complaint, he alleged that on July 23, 2013 around 1 p.m. he went to Barili particularly to the Regional Trial Court to get his service firearm after the court cleared him for a violation of the Commission on Elections gun ban.

After he got his service firearm back, he said he headed to his ancestral house in Barangay Mantalongon to visit his brothers. However, he met his friend, Jose Emnace who invited him to sing karaoke with him in Sitio Tambisan, Barangay Mantalongon.

“We stayed at the karaoke bar until 11:00 in the evening, after which I and Emnace boarded the motorcycle and proceeded home to our ancestral house situated in Mantalongon proper,” the affidavit read.

Upon arrival at Mantalongon proper, delos Santos said he saw Julian Soronio, a motorcycle driver and joked with him. He said since they were neighbors, he delivered the joke without an intention to offend the latter.

He said he asked Julian for a license but the latter replied he had no Temporary Operator’s Permit. However, when Emnace said that Julian really had no license, the latter got irked and rushed towards Emnace and punched him, hitting him in the face.

Because he was a policeman, he said he immediately rushed in to pacify the two. After trouble seemed to have been averted he left the scene.

He headed home and just near his ancestral house, Delos Santos said he saw some people waiting for him.

“That a distance of more or less 20 meters from our ancestral house I saw Jose Soronio and Walter Anore, brother of Mantalongon barangay captain Norman Anore at the junction of our ancestral house,” the affidavit read.

Delos Santos said when he greeted Jose a good evening, the latter ignored him and pulled out a gun from his waist then fired twice at him.

Aside from Jose, he said Walter also pulled out a gun and fired at him. Both of them missed.

Because of that, he said he fired back and gave six warning shots to scare off Jose and Walter. Sensing no more danger, he said he proceeded to Cebu City.

Named respondents were Jose Soronio and Walter Anore, both residents of Barangay Mantalongon.

Earlier, Julian Soronio, the brother of Jose Soronio, filed five counts of attempted murder against Delos Santos. He alleged it was Delos Santos who tried to kill him on July 23, 2013.

He said he was able to run and headed to the house of Norman Anore.

“I immediately entered the house of Anore and asked for assistance, the latter went out of his house together with barangay tanods Jose Soronio (his brother), Arnulfo Taburada and Nonito Ellado,” the complaint-affidavit read.  (FREEMAN)