Over traffic violation: Policeman, suspect hurt in shootout

CEBU, Philippines – A police officer and a college student were injured in a shootout in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City dawn yesterday.

PO2 Sir Abatayo of the Mobile Patrol Group sustained two gunshot wounds to his body while one of the suspects, Daryl Nimrod Baton, 19, a 2nd year student of the University of San Jose-Recoletos, was also injured.

PO1 Munick Cabañero, who was with Abatayo during the incident, narrated that they were patrolling in the area at around 2:30 am when they spotted Baton, together with two other men, riding a red Yamaha motorcycle.

Cabañero, who drove the Toyota Innova Mobile Patrol Car, said they were prompted to follow the three to confront them of their traffic violation for overloading, not wearing helmets and no plate number for the motorcycle.

However, as the police officers were already approaching, one of the suspects fired at them several times, hitting Abatayo, who was sitting at the front seat, to his right arm and right side of the body.

Although wounded, Abatayo, 35, still managed to return fire while Cabañero manipulated the patrol car and bumped the motorcycle causing it to fall together with the suspects.

Cabañero then fired again at the suspects and hit Baton to his left knee while the other suspects, identified as Miguel Andrino, 21, of Barangay Pandan, Sibonga, and Aljun Berdun, of Barangay Sabang, Danao City, managed to board the motorcycle again and sped off.

Cabañero rushed Abatayo to Chong Hua Hospital while Baton was taken to the Cebu City Medical Center for treatment.

Cabañero said their team, led by their chief, Supt. Armando Radoc, conducted a hot pursuit operation and arrested Berdun in Barangay Sabang around 6 a.m. but they failed to locate Andrino.

The police recovered from Berdun a caliber .357 revolver with five empty shells and a live ammunition on its cylinder and turned it over to the Homicide Section.

Baton denied owning the gun, but he was subjected to a paraffin test to determine whether he fired a gun or not.

The MPG car, with body number 015 and plate numbers SHM 379, was also turned over to the Homicide Section. The car bore bullet holes in its windshield, hood, bumper and right side portion.

Cabañero said while he was ferrying Baton to the CCMC, the suspect disclosed during his questioning that they were supposed to find someone to rob that time.

They allegedly sell their loot like cellular phones and other gadgets they took from their victims in Danao City where he also resides. (FREEMAN)