Naga man hurt in shootout with cops

CEBU, Philippines - A 33-year-old man was rushed to the hospital after he was shot by a policeman after he resisted arrest and tried to shoot them last Saturday evening at around 7:20 p.m. in sitio Grayrock, barangay Pangdan, Naga City.

Rolando Largo Abalo, a resident of sitio Ug-ug, barangay Pangdan, is now in the hospital after he sustained gunshot wounds in different parts of his body.

Based on the police blotter, the police officers received a call from a concerned citizen informing them that there was an armed person in the said place.

PO3 Romeo Bolaño and PO2s James Cañete and Cristino Canono responded to the said alarm. When they arrived at the said place they saw two men standing in the waiting shed and noticed one of them —later identified as Abalo— had what looked like a gun tucked into his pants.

Bolaño approached Abalo while Cañete and Canono went to the other man. The police officers introduced themselves then immediately grabbed the gun of Abalo but Abalo resisted.

Canono helped Bolaño grapple with Abalo but he was overpowered and the suspect ran away.

Abalo’s unidentified companion was able to escape during the ensuing commotion.

During the chase Abalo pulled out his gun and shot at Canono but missed. Bolaño pulled out his gun and fired at Abalo, hitting him several times.

The suspect stubbornly refused to let go of his gun until he could not bear the pain anymore. 

The policemen quickly disarmed him and brought him to the Minglanilla District Hospital. He was later transferred to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

They also recovered his gun, a .357 cal. revolver, with five live rounds and one empty shell. The suspect was also found with another six rounds in his pocket after he was taken to the hospital.

The police officers are to set charges against Abalo and find his companion to determine what they were up to at the time. — Christopher Gabriel Bonjoc/BRP (THE FREEMAN)