Manhunt on for tanod who shot minor dead

CEBU, Philippines - Police have launched a manhunt operation against a barangay tanod who shot dead a 14-year-old scavenger at Leon Kilat Street, Barangay Kalubihan last month.

Police Officer 3 Domino Decoriña, homicide investigator of the Cebu City Police Office, identified the suspect as Romel Origenes of Barangay Kalubihan.

Decoriña said that several minors have identified Origenes as the one who shot Jaygard Gonzaga while the latter was standing outside an eatery shortly before noon on August 24.

The minors told the police that the suspect approached the victim from behind and fired at him pointblank in the head. The victim was rushed to Cebu City Medical Center where he was confined for few days but eventually succumbed to the gunshot wound in the head.

“Wala na ma-operahi kay nalubong ang bala sa ilawom (he was no longer operated on because the bullet was lodged in his head),” Decoriña said.

The suspect allegedly used a revolver in shooting the victim because police investigators did not find empty shell at the crime scene.

Decoriña said the suspect was among the three tanods on duty when the shooting happened.

The witnesses did not know his name but they knew he was a tanod because he was regularly assigned in the area. The police immediately coordinated with Barangay Captain Carmelo Milan and found out that Origenes has gone AWOL. He also fits to the description of the gunman as described by the witnesses.

The police believe that Origenes might have lost self-control because the victim is one of the members of the group of minors who has been bullying him.

Origenes is said to have been warning those minors for allegedly stealing scrap irons from the demolished Gaisano South Capital building. But the scavengers were allegedly telling the suspect that he could not do something against them because they were minors and could not be put to jail. — /FPL  (FREEMAN)