Ermita tanod pleads not guilty for death of boy

Ermita barangay tanod Vicente Bosque yesterday pleaded not guilty for the death of 14-year-old Junard Anter who was accidentally killed when tanods chasing a fruit vendor who created trouble opened fire.

Ananias Anter strongly believed that it was tanod Vicente Bosque who accidentally hit his son, Junard, when the tanod tried to shoot the person they chased.

Anter refused to grant an interview after the court proceedings yesterday because he was not happy with Bosque’s plea before Regional Trial Court Judge Raphael Yraztorza.

Bosque, who is out of jail on bail, insisted that he is not guilty of the homicide charge filed against him, saying that it was not him who accidentally hit the boy. 

It was reported that Bosque and other tanods were chasing a certain Wilson Bagol who was drunk and had created trouble at the Carbon market.

Even if Bosque was blamed for the death of the boy, Ermita barangay captain Felicisimo Rupinta said he admired Bosque, describing him as one of his decorated tanods. Bosque was reportedly once awarded as the city’s best barangay tanod.

It was Rupenta who put up Bosque’s bail as one way to encourage his tanods to work hard because they are “insured” once they will face difficulties in performing their duties.

While he is out of jail, Bosque will continue his duties as chief of Ermita barangay tanods.

Barangay tanods are not authorized to possess and carry firearms. The records showed that Bosque is not a licensed firearm holder.

But in an earlier interview with reporters, he admitted that he fired his gun during the incident. — Rene U. Borromeo/LPM