Man arrested after 2-hour standoff

CEBU, Philippines - After two hours of negotiation, a man who was reported to the police for indiscriminate firing was arrested Friday night in Sitio Upper Pailob, Barangay Sambag II, Cebu City.

Armando Garces, 46, of Sitio Upper Pailob, Barangay Sambag II was arrested by the police and will be facing three criminal charges.

Chief Inspector Wildemar Tiu, Fuente Police Station chief, said they received a call that Garces fired his gun and was carrying it outside his residence.

He said that after receiving the alarm, Fuente Police Alert Team immediately responded and when they arrived, Garces noticed their presence and allegedly aimed the gun at them, prompting his men to shoot.

No one was hurt in the shooting.

Garces was taken aback and hid in the nearby chapel where he took cover for almost two hours.

Fuente police called for backup and police personnel from the Mobile Patrol Group and the City Intelligence Branch responded.

Garces’ son and uncle went to him and started to negotiate with him.

Tiu clarified that Garces did not hostage anybody and did not make any demands. Instead, Tiu said the 12-year-old son spoke on behalf of his father.

“Ang 12-year-old nga bata maoy negotiator, ingon siya di mi mo-kuan ug dili ninyo ihatag among pangayoon, mokuyog mi kung naa si Fiscal Fuentes,” Tiu said.

The man they were referring to was lawyer Dickson Fuentes, a retired city prosecutor, who is reportedly Garces’ godbrother, Tiu said.

It was around 10 p.m. when the police were able to arrest Garces.

 “Natimingan man nga down na iyang kamot nya nagunitan ang armas sa uyoan, pagkakita nako ang akong gidagan,” Tiu said. The police recovered a .45 caliber pistol from Garces.

Garces was brought to the Cebu City Medical Center and was subjected to a liquor test, which he tested positive. 

He was later brought to the Fuente Police Station and will be facing violation of RA 10591 or Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunitions, Alarm and Scandal, and infraction of City Ordinance 1929 or Drunkenness.  (FREEMAN)