Man threatens cop with gun during traffic tiff

CEBU, Philippines – A man was arrested for pointing a gun at the chief of the Firearms, Explosives, Security Agencies and Guards Supervision Section during a traffic altercation in Baran-gay Kasambagan last Tuesday.

Jose Maria "Bombie" Ylaya, 44, a resident of Banilad in Mandaue City, was arrested for illegal possession of firearms a day he pointed the same weapon at Supt. Rex Derilo.

In his complaint affidavit, Derilo said that last Tuesday at around 6:35 p.m. he went to a spa in Kasambagan, Cebu City, for a massage.

He said he left the establishment and waited for his driver to pick him up. While his driver was maneuvering he noticed a blue Toyota Sedan behind his car with its driver persistently blowing his vehicle horn. Ylaya was behind the wheel of this Sedan which had license plate numbers XBL-225.

Derilo said that he told his driver to park some distance ahead so the vehicle can get through, however his car could not move as it was partially blocked by two taxi-cabs.

Derilo added that upon hearing the car behind continuously honking he told Ylaya in a loud voice: "Part ayaw pag apura, huwat lang kadiyot kay dili makalusot ako driver kay may taxi."

But Ylaya alighted from his vehicle and shouted at him saying: "Isog man kaayo ka part."

Derilo added that he shouted at Ylaya to stop honking but Ylaya went to his car and allegedly got a pistol and pointed it at him.

"Part wala'y pusilay, kalma lang part kay gamay ra kaayo ni, padakoon pa gyod nimo,"Derilo reported saying.

After the two had reconciled, Derilo said he called in an armed person alarm as it was his duty as a policeman and chief of the FESAGSS.

The Mobile Patrol Group chased the suspect, but due to traffic congestion they failed to catch Ylaya who sped towards Talamban.

It was 24 hours later when they spotted the suspect coming out of the spa.

Insp. Delfin Bontuyan of the City Investigation and Detective Management Branch, who was one of the policemen positioned in the area, approached him when he again reprimanded another man beside the road for allegedly looking at him.

"Ako giingnan 'Nganong hilabtan man na nimo nga wala man ka giunsa ana'. Ingon s'ya, 'Ngano diay?'. Mao 'to galalis mi, unya miadto siya sa iya sakyanan kay nagkuha'g armas. Ako gisundan unya giaresto dayon. Nagnilayugay pa mi kay di man niya ihatag ang armas. Unya nangduol na dayon ang ako mga kauban," Bontuyan said.

Recovered from the suspect were a .380 Bersa pistol and two magazines of the same caliber with 29 live rounds.

Ylaya was freed yesterday after posting a bail of P60,000 before the Municipal Trial Court in Cities for illegal possession of firearms.

Derilo said he only filed illegal possession of firearms against Ylaya and did not include direct assault as he admitted that in the first place he did not identify himself as a policeman during their confrontation. -Niña G. Sumacot and Mylen P. Manto, correspondent/BRP (FREEMAN)