PAG member kills man over threats

CEBU, Philippines - A member of Police Auxiliary Group, formerly the Barangay Intelligence Network, of Cebu City Police Office was arrested yesterday morning after admitting that he shot dead a construction worker who allegedly threatened to kill him.

Armando Cabatuan, 33, of barangay Mambaling, Cebu City voluntarily surrendered himself to Supt. Jonathan Abella, chief of City Intelligence Branch of CCPO, after he shot dead Gualberto Galleto, 34, a construction worker of Oaminal Construction and a resident of sitio San Rafael, barangay San Roque, Talisay City.

Galleto together with his co-worker and neighbors were waiting for a vehicle to hitch on along the road of South Road Properties in San Roque, near the boundary of Cebu City around 5:40 a.m.

Cabatuan allegedly came along and, without any apparent reason, shot the victim twice before walking away and hitching on a vehicle bound for Cebu City.

Talisay City Police chief Supt. Henry Biñas said Supt. Abella called him informing him that the suspect surrendered to him. Biñas immediately instructed PO2 Eric Enad to get the suspect and bring him to their station.

Cabatuan also surrendered his .38 cal. revolver to the authorities.

He alleged that Galleto and his friends first threatened him a few weeks ago when he told the group to stop their robbery activities in the said area. He also said around 2 a.m. yesterday Galleto called him names while he was in his outpost in the said area.

“Nainit gyud akong ulo sa dihang iya kung giingnan nga bayot ning mga CIB, mao to nga ako dayun siyang gipusil,” Cabatuan said.

“Ako nalang siya’ng giunhan kaysa ako pa iyang unhan, sige na gud na sila ug bahad-bahad nako nga ila kung patyon,” Cabatuan added.

Some people who saw Galleto lying dead reportedly confirmed he and some of his friends were robbers.

“Sipat sad kaayo nang grupo anang bataa oi, mga bugal-bugalon kaayo,” one of them said.

However, Biñas said they have yet to check their records whether or not Galleto has a record of robbery in the area.

 Cabatuan reportedly had a companion at the time of the shooting, a certain “Bangguardia”.

CCPO director Patrocinio Comendador said that Cabatuan will be suspended as member of the PAG.

Comendador said that a PAG member voluntarily helps or assists the police in their operation especially during checkpoints or saturation drives. With Cabatuan’s suspension from assisting the police, his identification card as a PAG member will be confiscated and he will be detained pending the filing of charges against him.

Comendador also said it is unlawful for even PAG members to carry weapons as they are civilians. –Gabriel Bonjoc and Niña G. Sumacot/BRP     (THE FREEMAN)