Cop with arrest warrant yields

CEBU, Philippines- After an arrest warrant was release against him in the killing of a suspected drug personality in Bohol last year, a Special Weapons and Tactics operative of the Cebu City Police Office surrendered himself to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 yesterday morning.

PO3 Edcel Petecio, accompanied by his lawyer, Pedro Leslie Salva, turned himself over to the regional headquarters of CIDG.

Petecio said that as a law enforcement officer, he surrendered after knowing that he has a standing warrant of arrest.

The warrant was issued by Judge Jennifer Marcos, presiding judge of Regional Trial Court Branch 2 in Tagbilaran City, last February 28, 2015.

“In good faith as law enforcer, naa man tay warrant atong atubangon,” he added.

Petecio surrendered to CIDG because his arrest warrant was forwarded to the group, saying it stemmed from the death of Vernard Tadena last October 18, 2014.

Petecio said prior to the shooting incident, he visited the wake of his relative in Barangay Badiang, Inbangga town in Bohol.

He said while he was on his way to the wake, he overheard someone from the neighbor’s house saying “bantay kay naas Edcel,” which alarmed him.

Petecio said he checked the house and saw people running away but two persons were cornered inside and when he was about to approach them, Tadena came.

Tadena was allegedly brandishing an improvised gun and pulled the trigger but the gun malfunctioned, giving Petecio time to pull his weapon and shoot the former in his left leg.

Tadena allegedly took a .38 caliber from his waist and aimed it at Petecio but it also malfunctioned.

Petecio took cover and shot Tadena hitting him in his left jaw that led to his death.

The police recovered a .38 caliber revolver loaded with five misfired ammunitions, a pack of shabu and drug paraphernalia from the crime scene.

Salva, Petecio’s lawyer, said that aside from self-defense, his client was acting in lawful performance of his duty.

Petecio, however, said this is not the first time that a case was filed against him in the pursuit of is duty.  

He was assigned as a SWAT team member in Cebu City Police Office for the past five years. (FREEMAN)