Camputhaw tanod injured while responding to alarm

CEBU, Philippines - A tanod in barangay Camputhaw underwent surgical operation after he was shot by a robber shortly before midnight yesterday in Juana Osmeña Street, of the said barangay.

Reynaldo Quiñones reportedly responded to a robbery alarm when he was shot and hit in the chest by the robber.

Barangay tanod Lucio Sala and the rest of the tanods of Camputhaw who responded to the scene identified the suspect as 18-year-old Joseph Yamson, an alleged member of a gang called “Crips.” He eluded arrest together with two of his cohorts.

According to the investigation, the robbery victim, Shelvie Mosqueda, 33, a resident of Sanciangko St., was waiting for a taxicab near a hotel when an armed man, allegedly with two unidentified companions, who served as lookouts, approached her then pointed a gun.

The robber demanded for her things and was able to take away her cellular phone in the amount of P1,500 then fled with the two men.

Quiñones, who was with fellow barangay tanods conducting roving patrol, happened to see the robbers hurriedly walking away from the scene which prompted them to give a chase.

Quiñones allegedly was able to grab the arm of one of the robbers but another robber, identified as Yamson, allegedly shot him on the chest. The three then fled and eluded arrest.

The victim was rushed to the Cebu Doctors University Hospital but was transferred to the Chong Hua Hospital because of his critical condition while a pursuit operation was conducted by the tanods and police against the robbers. However, such yielded negative.

At the Theft and Robbery Section of the Cebu City Police Office yesterday, the tanods who also responded and fortunately survived the incident were shown of Yamson’s photo and immediately identified him as the one who shot their colleague.

A 17-year-old boy, reportedly a friend of Yamson, alleged that they were drinking liquor at his house in celebration of his birthday together with other friends when past 11 p.m., Yamson walked away reportedly to report for duty as a waiter at a restaurant in Lapu-Lapu City.

Karen, Yamson’s elder sister, together with three other siblings, strongly denied that they were hiding their brother from the police. They said that the moment they will see their brother, they will immediately turn him over to the police.

While not denying the allegations against the suspect, Karen also surmised that his brother might have just been dragged into the incident.

“Basin diay og gi-atangan na siya maong midagan na lang sad siya’g apil,” Karen said in tears. She said that they tried to contact their brother but to no avail.

Chief Insp. George Ylanan, head of the Investigation and Detective Management Branch, said that they will conduct a follow-up investigation on the incident and work for the soonest arrest of the suspect. — Niña G. Sumacot/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)