Suspect was after ‘Land title’ Councilor spared after gun misfires

CEBU, Philippines - Lapu-Lapu City Councilor Leo Mercado cheated death yesterday afternoon after the gun of a man who tried to shoot him misfired.

Mercado, 64, of  Barangay Gun-ob, Lapu-Lapu City, was heading to the comfort room of the Mahayahay cockpit in Gun-ob around 2:40 p.m. when someone blocked his way. 

The man, later identified as Patrocinio Baring, 67, tried to shoot Mercado, but his 9mm pistol misfired.

Mercado tried to run inside comfort room but got caught on the door and fell to the ground. By then other people in the cockpit had already seen what happened, some helped him up while others called the police for assistance.

First to respond at the crime scene was Senior Police Officer 4 Edgar Sagarino after the owner of the Mahayahay cockpit, Vic Radaza, called him for assistance. Sagarino, who is also a close friend of Mercado, was forced to shoot the suspect in his right thigh and right hip after he would not obey Sagarino’s command to surrender.

The suspect was immediately rushed to the Lapu-Lapu City Hospital by responding policemen. Police recovered the 9mm pistol used by the suspect which had five live rounds. Sagarino also surrendered his 9mm service firearm to Homicide Section personnel.

Police Officer 3 Lydo Pinos of the Homicide Section said that although they have yet to investigate the motive of the suspect, Mercado allegedly told them the suspect was asking him for a land title.

“Gisundan daw sa suspetsado si Mercado nga niadtong tungora padung sa CR ug gaharang  gipangutana nga ‘asa ang titulo?’ ug sa dihang mitubag si Mercado nga ‘unsay titulo?’ kalit usab nga gitionan sa suspek ug dayon   pabuto sa iyang armas, may na lang kay wa kabuto,” Pinos said.

Pinos also learned that the suspect and the intended victim knew each other; in fact Mercado reportedly helped the suspect find a job once.

Mercado was once barangay captain of Barangay Pajo and at the same time an ex-officio at the city council after being elected as Association of Barangay Councils president.

He is currently serving his first term as a councilor of Lapu-Lapu City.  —/BRP (FREEMAN)