Cop indicted for “shooting” neighbor

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office has indicted a police officer for frustrated murder before the court for allegedly shooting his neighbor using his unlicensed firearm.

Inquest prosecutor Rhodna Alcala-Bacatan held Police Officer 2 Celso Colita for trial after he failed to submit his counter-affidavit to answer the accusations filed against him.

“The uncontested evidence of complainant sufficiently established probable cause against respondent. The act of respondent in shooting an unarmed person, and the nature of the complainant’s wound being fatal justifies the accusation of frustrated murder,” the resolution reads.

Bacatan recommended P40,000 bail for Colita’s temporary liberty.

The complaint was filed by Ricjun Macani, 30, a resident of Barangay Labangon, Cebu City.

According to Macani, while walking along the road of Sitio Sto. Niño, Barangay Labangon on October 4, 2014 at 7:20 p.m. to buy chicken, he noticed that somebody was following him.

Macani said he found out that it was a certain “Tisoy,” later known as Colita, who was wearing a helmet.

He said Colita then pulled his firearm out and shot at him three times. Macani was then brought to the hospital.

Barangay Tanod Danilo Labiste said they responded to the shooting incident after they received a call from barangay councilman Edibrando Ygonia.

“That upon receiving such information, I, together with barangay tanods Reynante Bendol and Roberto Cagas immediately proceeded to above stated place that upon reaching thereat, we timely saw a person whose description fitted given by the information. Right then and there we immediately approached and confronted the said person and directly told him where his firearm is,” he stated.

After the confrontation, Labiste said he frisked Colita and found a homemade 38 snub nose.

Labiste said the Punta Princesa police assisted them in arresting Colita. —/ATO (FREEMAN)