Lapu-Lapu City courthouse gets two security cops

CEBU, Philippines - Two policemen have been detailed by the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office at the Palace of Justice to augment the court’s security following a shooting rampage in a Cebu City court.

City police director Rey Lyndon Lawas detailed two of his personnel at the court upon the request of Lapu-Lapu City executive judge Toribio Quiwag. Lawas said the assignment of the two policemen was approved by city election officer Janet Chua Hu Lamban.

Lawas sought the approval of the Comelec before assigning policemen to secure the court because of the existing Comelec ban on reassignment of personnel in line with the May 13 elections. 

“Di man sad election-related, so okay ra (It’s not election-related so it’s all right),” Lawas said.

The two policemen assigned at the Palace of Justice were instructed to conduct patrol within the courthouse.

The beefing up of the court security stemmed from the incident in Cebu City wherein Canadian national John Pope went on a shooting rampage inside the courtroom killing a lawyer and a doctor. A prosecutor was also injured while the suspect was shot by the police before he committed suicide.

Pope shot dead Dr. Rene Rafols and his lawyer Jubian Achas inside the Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 6. Rafols filed a complaint against Pope which was supposed to be heard on the day of the shooting.

After killing Rafols and Achas, Pope went to MTCC Branch 1 where he has another pending case and shot assistant city prosecutor Maria Theresa Casiño in the nape. Casiño survived from the attack and is now recuperating at the Chong Hua Hospital.

Pope was believed to be on his way to also shoot city prosecutor Nicolas Sellon when he was confronted by the two policemen. The suspect who was then armed with a .357 revolver was shot by the policemen.

Witnesses however said that Pope finished himself off by shooting his head.—  (FREEMAN)