Tanod fall for firing gun, 'harassing' neighbors

CEBU - For firing his gun and allegedly harassing his neighbors, a 53-year-old barangay tanod of Maguikay, Mandaue City was arrested by Casuntingan police early yesterday morning.

The suspect, Silvino Balansag, reportedly sowed terror in his neighborhood by firing his gun and trying to kill his neighbors.

Alan Rael, a vendor and neighbor of Balansag, and his family evacuated to the barangay hall of Maguikay for fear that the suspect would kill them after he fired his gun three times.

However, police authorities failed to recover the firearm from the suspect during his arrest.

Reports said that Balansag got angry when his neighbors asked him to lower the volume of his videoke for it allegedly causes disturbance in their neighborhood.

“Wala lang mi nitan-aw kun kinsa to ang nagpabuto pero klaro kaayo ang iyang tingog isog kayo. Mga tulo siguro to ka buto sa armas ang among nadungog. Nasuko man na siya dihang gibadlong siya sa iyang negosyo nga videoke unya luoy kaayo ang among mga bata wala’y klarong katug,” Rael said.

After hearing bursts of gunfire, Rael together with his family hurriedly left their house and proceeded to the barangay hall for their safety. However, the victim said that Balansag later arrived and boxed him in the stomach.

“Suko pa gyud kaayo siya pag-abot sa barangay hall unya gisumbag pa ko sa tiyan” Rael added.

Tita Balansag, wife of the suspect, however, denied that her husband was brandishing a firearm and tried to kill Rael.

“Wa gyud armas ug wala sa’y nagpabuto. Ug dili sab tinuod nga nakadisturbo mi sa videoke kay alas dyes pahinayan na man namo. Siguro duna’y higayon molapas kun duna’y okasyon,” she explained.

But Rael claimed otherwise, saying the loud volume from Balansag’s karaoke starts in the afternoon until the night that disturbs not only his children’s sleep but also affects their schooling because they could not study well at night. — Ramil V. Ayuman/WAB   (THE FREEMAN)