Kin of man who was shot by cops seek CHR's help

CEBU, Philippines - Claiming there was an overkill, the family of the alleged bolo-wielding man who was shot dead by the members of Mabolo Police Station and Mobile Patrol Division last Tuesday night in North Reclamation Area will seek the help of the Commission on Human Rights to assist them to press charges against the policemen.

In an interview over GMA-7’s Bueno Mano, the wife of Samuel Dotillos, 57, of Fairview Village, Talisay City, said the police could have just neutralized her husband by shooting his body limbs. But instead, Leticia said her husband was shot six times mostly to the chest, piercing his heart and liver that resulted to his death.

Leticia alleged her husband was suffering from schizophrenia and they are giving him medicines everyday. Prior to the incident, she said they doubled his medicine’s dosage as they allegedly failed to supply him with the medicine for a day.

At 9 p.m., his family allegedly noticed that Samuel was not inside their house. About two hours later, they learned that he was shot dead by policemen for allegedly wielding a bolo and chasing his own son.

For his part, Cebu City Police Office director Patrocinio Comendador said the incident was not a case of overkill but a form of self-defense and securing also the safety of the public in general. He said they will welcome any complaint the Dotillos family may file against them.

Comendador said had Samuel’s family kept an eye on him, the incident could have not happened, considering that he has schizophrenia.

“It should have been that the victim wala unta miabot didto (North Reclamation Area), kay og naka-tigbas ‘to og lima ka-tawo ug nakapatay… So, naka-save ta og lima-ka tawo with that,” he stressed.

The CCPO director added that the word overkill is relative. “Any shooter can tell you that it’s really hard to shoot a moving person at night especially on his limbs, sa iya extremities.”

Comendador directed the Investigation and Detective Management Branch led by Chief Insp. George Ylanan to conduct an ocular inspection of the vehicle that was reportedly damaged by Dotillos to serve as evidence and to determine if the police officers who shot him was really in danger.

But during initial investigation, Ylanan confirmed there was a threat in the lives of PO1 Noel Belicario of Mabolo Police Station, who first responded to the alarm, and PO2s Leo Gallego and Remos Goco of the MPD, who allegedly had no other recourse but to shoot Dotillos who was brandishing a bolo and tried to attack them. — Niña G. Sumacot/WAB (THE FREEMAN)