Gayotin pushes commendation for cop who shot rob suspect

City Police acting director, Supt. Melvin Gayotin, yesterday said he would ask the city government and the Police Regional Office-7 to give commendations to PO1 Jerome Morales, a policeman who shot a suspected robber in General Maxilom Avenue the other day.

It was an act of bravery for Morales, said Gayotin, and it has been the practice of the city mayor to grant cash rewards to policemen, even those who do not belong to the Cebu City Police Office, for shooting or neutralizing robbers while in the city.

Morales himself, when asked separately about a possible transfer from his present assignment at the Regional Investigation and Intelligence Division to the CCPO, said he is a resident of the city but he would just rely on the decision of his superiors.

Two months ago, SPO3 Meliton Agadier, an off-duty policeman of the Carcar Police, gunned down a PUJ robber and arrested a cohort right after the robbery that took place inside a PUJ at M.J. Cuenco Avenue. The city reportedly gave cash reward to Agadier.

While there is no formal talk yet about cash reward for the latest incident, Morales recalled that he felt fear for his life when suspected robber, 18-year-old Lemuel Enginella, aimed a loaded gun at him.

Morales and Enginella faced with guns pointing at each other, at the exit door of a restaurant where the suspect tried to seek cover before escaping. The faster gun then was Morales who, with his 9mm pistol hit Enginella in the chest and the bullet pierced his back.

"Pagsaka na gyud sa iyang armas , nakuyawan na gyud ko, pero pasalamat sad ko kay naunhan nako siya, maayo nalang gyud kay wala siya mamatay kay ang ato ana niya nga ma-neutralize siya," Morales narrated the scene to The Freeman.

Enginella fell and dropped his .357 caliber revolver loaded with five live bullets, and the bag he grabbed from Oliva Basnillo, his robbery victim from the PUJ a few minutes before the shooting.

After robbing Basnillo, the suspect ran toward a restaurant and tried to take a 17-year-old female student his hostage.

Morales was at the time with his one-year-old son, his wife who was 6-month pregnant, and his 55-year-old mother Crizelda. They had just came from Mass at the Holy Family Church when he saw security guard Romeo Flores running to the restaurant with a drawn gun.

It prompted Morales to spring into action and help the guard subdue Enginella. The suspect is now out of danger at the hospital and is set to be jailed while facing robbery charges. - Edwin Ian Melecio/RAE