Cop arrested over frustrated murder

CEBU, Philippines - A policeman accused of frustrated murder was arrested yesterday by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-7 in Barangay Pangdan, Naga City.

Police Officer 3 Leoncio Salubre, who is assigned at the San Fernando Police Station, was off duty when CIDG-7 operatives led by Chief Inspector Fermin Armendarez arrested him at 2:00 p.m. inside his house on the strength of a warrant of arrest issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 10 Judge Soliver Peras.

Salubre is accused of shooting Jerson Granton in 2005.

Salubre’s superior officer Insp. Crisanto Abella, deputy chief of San Fernando Police Station, accompanied the arresting team to his house. It was also Abella who personally requested Salubre to submit himself to the judicial process.

Insp. Delfin Bontuyan, Salubre’s batch in the defunct Philippine Constabulary, said it hurt him to be part of the arresting team.

However, Bontuyan said he is bound to fulfill his duties and arise above over his personal feelings.

Salubre denied the charge against him saying that when he responded to an alarm in Pangdan seven years ago the alleged victim was already injured.

Salubre said that Granton’s companion who was armed then ran prompting him to give a chase. He said the suspect shot him but missed prompting him to return fire but the latter was still able to escape.

Salubre explained that he was mistakenly identified to have shot Granton.

“Normal raman hinuon ni sa atong mga police nga makasugat ta og ing-ani nga pasangil (This is normal for policemen to encounter this kind of accusation)” said Salubre who is now temporarily detained at the CIDG-7 stockade. (FREEMAN)