Murder raps filed against police asset

CEBU, Philippines - Elements of the Talisay City Police Office yesterday filed murder charge against a police asset who was arrested for killing a construction worker who allegedly threatened to kill him in Barangay San Roque, Talisay City last Tuesday morning.

Armando Cabatuan, 33, a member of the Police Auxiliary Group of the Cebu City Police Office was charged with murder for shooting to death Gualberto Galleto, 34, a construction worker of Oaminal Construction and a resident of Sitio San Rafael, Barangay San Roque, Talisay City.

Police said that at around 5:40 a.m., Galleto together with his co-worker and neighbors were waiting for a vehicle to hitch at the road of South Road Properties in San Roque when Cabatuan came 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 that around 8 a.m. on the said day, Supt. Jonathan Abella, chief of City Intelligence Branch of CCPO called informing him that Cabatuan surrendered to his office.

Biñas immediately instructed PO2 Eric Enad to get the suspect and bring him to Talisay City Police Office.

Cabatuan, a resident of Barangay Mambaling in Cebu City also surrendered his .38 cal. Revolver, which he used in shooting Galleto, to the authorities.

The suspect alleged that a few weeks ago, Galleto and his friends threatened him when he told the group to stop their robbery activities. He also said around 2 a.m. before the shooting happened, Galleto called him names while he was in his outpost at the SRP near the boundary of Talisay City and Cebu City.

“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 og bahad-bahad nako nga ila kung patyon.”

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,” who they will also invite for investigation.

For his part, CCPO director Patrocinio Comendador said Cabatuan will be suspended as member of the PAG and his identification card as a PAG member will be confiscated.

Comendador said that a PAG member voluntarily helps or assists the police in their operation especially during checkpoints or saturation drives.

The CCPO director emphasized that it is unlawful for PAG members to carry weapons as they are still considered civilians. — Gabriel C. Bonjoc/WAB (THE FREEMAN)