Chief lauds cop who killed own brother

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue  City Police Office Chief Petronelli Baldebrin has commended PO1 Teresito Jermin Ligan for saving his own life and that of others while exchanging fire with his own brother.

Ligan, 25, accidentally killed his brother, Teresito Raigan “Pati” Ligan, 30, during a shootout in Sitio Kalubihan, Barangay Jagobiao, Mandaue Wednesday afternoon.

Residents sought the help of the police after Pati fired his gun indiscriminately around 2 p.m. during a quarrel with his wife.

Ligan and PO1 Jerome Encallado were on roving patrol that time when they received the alarm.  They immediately rushed to the scene and learned it was Pati who fired a gun.

Ligan approached his brother but Pati allegedly shot him twice in the chest.  The policeman was unhurt as he was wearing a bullet-proof vest, but Pati shot him again, this time in the left lower leg.

The police officer fired back, hitting Pati in his face. Ligan just wanted to hit his older brother in the leg to disable him, but Pati reportedly crouched when Ligan fired that the bullet hit him in the face instead.

Pati died at Chong Hua Hospital last Thursday dawn.

Although the Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 official said that an investigation will be conducted as a matter of procedure, Baldebrin said he would recommended that Ligan receives an award for his swift response.

“What he did was commendable. Nagpatigbabaw gyud sa iyang huna-huna ang serbisyo (What was foremost in his mind was the call of duty),” Baldebrin said, adding that more people might have been hurt had Ligan desisted from firing back because the suspect was his brother.

“He had to do it to save his own life and the lives of others in the vicinity,” Baldebrin said.

He said he called Ligan, who is currently recuperating at Chong Hua Hospital, right after the incident to give him moral support.

He described the man as a good and well-disciplined police officer.   Pati was the alleged leader of the” Pati Robbery Group” operating in Mandaue and northern towns of Cebu.

The police identified his cohorts as Ricky “Pon” Andojaralias, Joel “Praning” Catubay, Noel “Chuckie” Layco, and Argiue “Bogart” Villamor.

The police also said Pati was responsible in a shooting incident infront of the ABS CBN compound in Barangay Jagobiao, Mandaue at dawn last Aug. 10.

The victim was identified as Noel Valle Burmalong, VTR editor of the said television network, who was hit in his right leg. (FREEMAN)