Cop who shot ex-con is restricted to station

While waiting for legal moves that might be filed against him, PO3 Jerome Java was restricted to the Punta Princesa Police station starting yesterday and was disarmed.

Acting city director Melvin Gayotin said he is still waiting for the incident report of the Homicide Section to determine whether Java should face an administrative investigation over the incident.

But for Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Branch chief Paul Labra, there should be no more investigation because the incident that led to the death of ex-convict Alemar Luna in barangay Buhisan Monday night was a legitimate one.

Labra said he will recommend to Gayotin and to the city government that Java be awarded for his courageous act.

"It was a legitimate operation so why would there be an investigation against him?" Labra said yesterday morning.

Labra said he advised Java to be extra careful as Luna's relatives might try to avenge his death. He confirmed intelligence reports that there was a plan by Luna's friends to attack the Punta Princesa police station.

Luna's end came after he allegedly stormed the house of Java around 7:55 p.m. and then shot the policemen there and then without any apparent reason with his .45 cal. pistol.

He even greeted Java by saying "Maayong gabii chief," then fired at the latter right away, yet the policeman managed to drop so he was unscathed.

Java said that prior to the incident, people who were at a fair were scampering away because Luna reportedly arrived there and ordered that the activities be stopped because he was going to celebrate Mass.

It has been a tradition in barangay Buhisan to have a fair as part of the revelry every time the Feast of the Sto. Niño is approaching.

Because he received threats from Luna's camp several times already Java said he immediately armed himself with a 12-gauge shotgun and started requesting for backup from the Mobile Patrol Group, Crime Suppression Unit and his mother station, the Punta Princesa police.

But as he was yet to finish sending text messages to his colleagues, Luna reportedly arrived along with a man identified only as a certain Ian who acted as lookout.

When Luna missed the target, Java then shot the victim once in the head while Ian scampered away.

Java said Luna always suspected he had something to do with the attack on him wherein he survived 14 gunshot wounds.

Controversial policeman Adonis Dumpit was implicated to that attack but nothing prospered as there was no complaint filed and Luna did cooperate with the investigators. - Ryan P. Borinaga