Brgy tanod shoots to death drunk man

A 24-year-old man believed to be drunk was accidentally shot to death by a barangay tanod in sitio Lamac, barangay Abucayan, Balamban town.

PO2 Hannibal Larida of the Balamban Police Station disclosed that prior to the incident the man identified as Julio del Rosario was seen brandishing a long bolo locally called pinuti and threatening everyone he met on the road.

“Hubog ni’s del Rosario ug nanghasi… gibabagan niya ang mga habal-habal sa karsada,” Larida told The FREEMAN.

Neighbors were alarmed also because del Rosario would run after everyone he met on the road, Larida said.

Barangay tanod Rolly Mercado, 37, who was first to have responded to the alarm, asked del Rosario to drop his weapon and turn himself over to the authorities. But the latter reportedly failed to heed his call and allegedly made a mad dash towards the tanod waving his weapon.

This prompted the tanod to open fire at del Rosario with a 45 Colt MKW4 supposedly on his knee but accidentally hit the victim in the upper thigh and buttocks.

The victim was rushed by the tanod to the Balamban District Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival by the doctor.

The tanod surrendered at the Balamban Police Station after the incident.

Larida further disclosed that the relatives of the victim, however, would not file charges against the tanod. — Joy Kareen T. Saliente/MEE