Drug test for tanod who shot actor dead

CEBU, Philippines – The barangay tanod who shot dead an actor in the middle of a film shoot in barangay Parian last Saturday night will be subjected to a drug test tomorrow for allegedly being unruly in the set.

This as the director of the Cebu City Police Office said there was no lapse on the part of the policemen who secured the area of the film shooting, saying they properly informed the barangay officials and tanods beforehand.

Chief Insp. Alexis Relado, chief of Parian Police Station, said they were supposed to have the suspect, Edgardo Cuizon, undergo the drug test yesterday, but because of the holidays, the scheduled test was moved to today.

"Kinahanglan pa man gud mubayad og P300 sa banko unya wa ma'y banko gahapon," Relado said.

He said Cuizon, 51, was already submitted to a liquor test and found to be negative of alcohol.

The FREEMAN received information that the suspect appeared either intoxicated or high when he was warned not to go to the set but still stayed around and ended up killing Kirk Abella, 32.

Abella, a resident of Barangay Punta Princesa, is connected with Alan Lyddiard Films based in London, United Kingdom.

Relado would not confirm this independent report.

"Dili sa ingon nga ming-defend ko sa tanod but dili man siya hostile that time. Gikuyogan pa gani siya ug pulis padung didto nya gi-warningan siya daan nga naay ga-shooting na mga artista didto. Ato siya i-undergo og drug test para matagaan og fair treatment," he said.

Relado added that since he served as chief of the police station for over two months, he found out the suspect to be active especially in their curfew operations and was never seen bringing a gun.

City police chief Sr. Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe was the one who ordered Relado to have the barangay tanod undergo a drug test.

"Ang barangay tanod gi-submit for liquor test and gi-advise-an pud nako to undergo drug test kay mahibulong ta nganong ni-react man siya didto nga well-disseminated and well-coordinated man to. Gisultian ang mga tawo didto nga naay shooting nga ginabuhat," he said.

Buenafe also countered allegations that the police did not properly inform the tanods of the film shooting.

"Naay gi-conduct na investigation nganong nahitabo to but initially, makita nato nga wa man silay lapses ato. Naa ray mura'g psychotic kuan siguro ang tawo during that time nganong mi-react man siya ug ingon adto knowing nga film shooting man to," Buenafe said.

A case for reckless imprudence resulting to homicide and violation of the gun ban is now being prepared against the suspect.

Abella's remains are now at the St. Francis Funeral Homes along N. Bacalso Avenue.

His sister Cleofe Escanillan said that was her youngest brother's first movie.

Abella, single but with a son, was recently informed by a neighbor connected with the film industry about the documentary. He was later hired by Alan Lyddiard, the producer.

Escanillan said that based on what Lyddiard told her, he is possibly no longer pursuing the movie.

She said she and her other siblings are pursuing the case despite the pleas of Cuizon's wife.

"Ngano gud 'tawn? Sila mao'y muatras pero kami dili. Lahi ra gyud 'ning mamatyan ka," she said.

Abella was playing the role of an assassin and wore a bonnet to cover his face and was armed with a toy gun when he was shot by Cuizon who thought the victim was really out to shoot someone.  (FREEMAN)