Cop stabbed dead while responding to alarm

CEBU, Philippines - A police officer died while responding to a trouble alarm in Sitio Purok Palmera, Barangay Esperanza, Pilar town in Camotes Island Saturday evening.

Jonathan “Ondoy” Cordero, 42, stabbed PO1 Ryan Saturiño, 27, in the chest using a pair of scissors.

Cordero was also shot dead.

Prior to the incident, Barangay Councilor Miguel Silao went to the police station asking that Cordero be arrested for hitting him with a bamboo split after he (Silao) reprimanded him for burning garbage along the road.

The police said the residents informed them that Cordero was suffering from a nervous breakdown.

“Mukalit lang kuno na’g panukmod unya og badlungon masuko,” Insp. Bernabe Coyoca, Pilar Police Chief, said.

A team composed of PO2 Nelton Silao, PO1 Vicente Piañar, and Saturiño responded and went to the house of Cordero.

The police introduced themselves and informed Cordero of his rights. But just as Saturiño was about to handcuff Cordero, the latter resisted which resulted to a scuffle. Coyoca said that Saturiño was overpowered by Cordero, who was bigger and stronger.

Cordero pulled out a pair of scissors from his pocket and fatally stabbed Saturiño in the chest.

This time, Piañar fired at Cor-dero from behind which gave Sa-turiño a chance to  pull his .45 pistol and shot the suspect thrice.

Saturiño and Cordero were rushed by the police to the Municipal Health Center but both were declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

Coyoca said that Saturiño, resident of Barangay Canduman, Mandaue City,  was still fighting for his life when they transported him to the hospital.

“I think he died in the vehicle on the way to the hospital,” he said.

Police recovered four empty shells of undetermined caliber of firearm and a pair of scissor from the crime scence.

The remains of Saturiño was taken to the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes in Mandaue City. —(FREEMAN)