An alleged mentally deranged man was shot by the police when he reportedly ran amok and attacked a municipal councilor in Poro who wanted to pacify him Friday afternoon.
A report reaching the Cebu Provincial Police Office disclosed that Gerardo Loon, 54, a resident of barangay Tigis, took a bolo and threatened to kill anyone who would go near him.
Loon’s nephew, Jon Boy, immediately sought assistance from the police station as they feared that their uncle might harm them.
Two policemen arrived and appealed to Loon to surrender but he ignored them. Minutes later, Tigis barangay councilman Nilo Lucañas arrived to appeal to Loon to throw his bolo and surrender.
But Loon still ignored the call and went to the Tigis public market where municipal councilor Emilianito Burlasa appealed to him to surrender to the authorities.
Loon instead walked toward a house near the public market and became furious upon seeing people surrounding him.
He made a sign of the cross and attacked Burlasa, but the police quickly fired a shot and hit his leg.
He was then brought to the Ricardo Manigo District Hospital and is now out of danger.
The police are now preparing to file appropriate charges against Loon. — Garry B. Lao/LPM