NBI-7 employee arrested by tanod

CEBU, Philippines - An employee of the National Bureau of Investigation-7 was arrested after he allegedly struck a man’s face with a firearm after the latter complained him for accidentally stepping on his foot inside a public utility jeepney yesterday morning along MJ Cuenco Avenue, Cebu City.

Ruel Caballero, cashier at NBI-7 Mandaue satellite office, was brought to Parian Police Station after he surrendered to a barangay tanod after the incident at past 6 a.m. yesterday.

Ronilo Catalan, 33, sustained a cut to his right cheek after he was allegedly hit by Caballero’s .357 revolver.

Based on the initial investigation conducted by Parian police, the suspect and the victim were on board the same PUJ bound for North Reclamation Area.

Caballero was said to have accidentally stepped on Catalan’s foot and claimed that he was quick to say sorry, saying he did not mean it.

However, Caballero further claimed, while the PUJ was passing through MJ Cuenco Avenue in Barangay T. Padilla, Catalan acted very unusual and looked at him.

He further claimed that Catalan punched him in the face, prompting him to take out his firearm and struck it in Catalan’s face.

Catalan had a different version of the story, alleging that when Caballero stepped on his foot, he looked at him with an angry face.

Caballero then allegedly told him, “unsa may problema nimo?” and pulled out a firearm which he used to hit his face.

Because of the commotion inside the jeepney, some of the passengers jumped out thinking that Catalan was robbed.

Barangay tanod Riley Sibella, who happened to pass by the area, saw Catalan’s face bleeding.

He checked on the commotion and managed to hold Caballero.

Caballero surrendered the firearm to Sibella, who brought them both to Parian Police Station.

NBI-7 agent Atty. Erme Monsanto, on behalf of NBI-7 director Max Salvador, visited Caballero at the police station yesterday.

Monsanto, in an interview, said their office will conduct an internal investigation into the matter.

He asked the Parian police to place Caballero in the investigation room while the investigation is still pending and not inside the detention cell.

But later in the afternoon, both parties decided to settle amicably and Caballero was released. —/NSA (FREEMAN)