CEBU, Philippines - A policeman was shot dead at dawn yesterday inside the San Francisco, Camotes Island Police Station by a fellow man in uniform.
PO2 Edward Keith Barrameda met his death allegedly in the hands of PO3 Ananias Mortejo, who was roused from his sleep inside the police station’s radio room.
It was reported that Mortejo, 55, a widower, and residing at barangay Capitol Site, Cebu City, was awoken from his sleep.
This was because Barrameda, 32, married of Minglanilla town, entered the radio room. It was at this point that Mortejo confronted Barrameda about missing items from their station, which he believes the younger policeman took.
Mortejo, who is supply Police Non-Commissioned Officer of the station, accused Barrameda of taking four short pants, two .38 caliber revolvers, one super .38 pistol, and one Beretta pistol.
Barrameda denied the accusation and an argument ensued.
In the course of the argument, Mortejo grabbed his M-16 Armalite rifle and fired twice at Barrameda hitting him on the upper right side of the chest.
Fellow policemen, who were on duty, immediately rushed to the radio room and found Barrameda already wounded on the floor.
They disarmed Mortejo, who did not resist, and rushed the wounded policeman to the Ricardo Maningo Memorial Hospital, but Barrameda was declared dead on arrival.
Probe
Supt. Erson Digal, Cebu Provincial Police Office Deputy Director for Administration, has ordered an investigation into the incident.
The probe will be conducted by Sr. Insp. Ruben Cuizon, chief of the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management (PIDM) Branch.
Three policemen on duty at the time of the incident — SPO1 George Yap, PO3 Francisco Codiñera, PO1 Mamirod Carasina, have already given their accounts of the incident as well as one civilian, who was in the station. They went to the CPPO headquarters yesterday morning.
Mortejo has also given his statement and was subjected to a paraffin test and a medical check-up. The medical check-up is a stand operating procedure before anybody is put under detention.
From the CPPO, Mortejo was brought to the detention cell of the Talisay City Police Station.
Digal said that charges of murder will be filed against Mortejo. He will also check whether the allegations that the victim was involved in the loss of items from the station.
The family of Barrameda can however expect financial assistance from the CPPO.
Relieved
As an off-shoot of the incident, Sr. Insp. Ciriaco Larrobis was immediately relieved as chief of the San Francisco police station and has been assigned to the Provincial Security Service Group (PSSG).
Supt. Edward Saavedra, who is currently the island supervisor for Camotes, will assume as office in charge.
The relief of Larrobis was however already pending as he was subject of an investigation for abandonment of post last year. In that case, Barrameda was also involved.
Digal said that Larrobis cannot expect to be reinstated at San Francisco even after the investigation on the death of Barrameda.
“Na timing lang sab jud nga naay nahitabo sa area ni Larrobis labi na iyang mga sakop ang labot,” Digal said.
He also said that this incident should serve as a lesson to the policemen not to immediately lose their cool.
“Kung naa man gani gamay bikil sa kaubang polis pagpakigsabot, kung dili jud madala naay usa ka party nga mureport sa higher official para mao nay mu husay ug mabutang pa jud sa record,” Digal added.
Incident in Siquijor
Meanwhile, a retired soldier of the Philippine Army was shot dead by a police officer in barangay Punong, Siquijor, Siquijor last Saturday afternoon.
The fatality was identified as Rufo Balaigyao, 48, and a resident of the place.
He was allegedly sjot dead by PO3 Wilson Basong, who is assigned at Provincial Internal Affairs Service of Siquijor.
The two men were allegedly drinking in two separate groups with their friends when they started to argue leading to the shooting. —/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)