Cop shoots armed man in Toledo

CEBU, Philippines - A man believed to be drunk was shot twice by a policeman after he brandished his gun and shot a 14-year-old at sitio Kinner, barangay Poblacion, Toledo City at about 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday.

Two hours later that night, a laborer died in sitio Impong, barangay Daanlungsod, Alcoy after he was shot by his colleague while he was sleeping inside a vacant house.

In the Toledo incident, Ritchie Rubin was shot in the right part of his chest by Ricardo Baricuatro, 48.

Baricuatro was also shot in his left thigh and leg after by Police Officer 3 Lorenzo Gutang, who happened to be his neighbor.

Baricuatro and Rubin were taken to the Toledo City Hospital.

Baricuatro was drinking with his friends when he suddenly pulled out a gun, yelling. He aimed and fired his caliber .38 paltik at the house of Rubin, who was watching television at that time.

Rubin’s mother, Rosalie, was surprised to see her son with a gunshot wound and calling her for help. She then heard two more shots.

Baricuatro was about to escape onboard his motorcycle when PO3 Gutang and barangay tanod Bernardo Layan arrived and flagged him down.

Baricuatro intentionally hit Gutang in the right knee so Layan tried to hold the suspect.

When Baricuatro tried to pull out his firearm, Gutang shot him twice.

Baricuatro was later transferred to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC).

The police recovered Baricuatro’s gun, two empty shells and two live bullets.

PO3 Benedicto Bobiles Jr. told The FREEMAN that they will file direct assault, illegal possession of firearm, and frustrated homicide against Baricuatro before the Regional Trial Court.

Meanwhile in Alcoy, Ronald Bensing, 21, was sleeping beside his brother Mark Anthony inside a vacant house owned by Gregoria Plando when Mark Anthony was awakened by a gunshot.

Mark Anthony claimed he saw a certain Sadji Sapini, 22, accompanied by a 15-year-old (name withheld), jump off the window to flee while Ronald was already bathed in a pool of blood.

Ronald had a gunshot wound in the head and died along the way to VSMMC.

Police say work-related grudge prompted the killing. (FREEMAN)