Drunk cop kills bus passenger, wounds 2 cops

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — A policeman was arrested after shooting a bus passenger and wounding two responding policemen at the border of Cotabato and Davao del Sur provinces before dawn Saturday.

Brig. Gen. Arnold Peralta Ardiente, Police Regional Office-12 director, told reporters that Cpl. Alfred Dawatan Sabas might be dishonorably discharged from the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Both the Cotabato and Davao del Sur provincial police offices said in separate reports that Sabas would be charged with murder and frustrated murder.

According to their initial reports, Sabas had a loud argument with his girlfriend, Phoenix Marie delos Santos, while in a bus to Davao City on Saturday.

Sabas, a member of Police Precinct 7 in General Santos City, was reportedly so drunk that he pulled out and fired his Canik 9mm pistol, hitting passenger Reynaldo Bigno Jr. in the process.

Bigno died on the spot, according to witnesses.

Col. Gilbert Tuzon, Cotabato provincial police office director, said the bus driver stopped in front of a roadside checkpoint of the 11th Regional Mobile Force Battalion in Barangay New Opon in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur to seek police assistance.

But Sabas fired his gun at Cpl. Kent Maurith Pamaos and Pat. Russel Love Tapia, who tried to frisk and disarm him, Tuazon said.

Sabas tried to escape but was cornered and arrested by pursuing officers.

Police said initial investigation also showed that Delos Santos, Sabas’ live-in partner, is a shabu peddler who was caught in a sting in Kidapawan City in February and is out on bail.

PNP probes Christmas shooting

Meanwhile, the PNP Internal Affairs Service (IAS) has launched a probe into the shooting of two construction workers in Barangay Canjusa in Pulupandan, Negros Occidental on Christmas Day.

Col. Joemarie Occeño, IAS-6 acting director, said his office conducted an ocular inspection and collected pieces of evidence on the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Joman Fuentes and the wounding of his father, Jomarie.

Occeño assured the community of an impartial investigation, adding that key witnesses were interviewed.

He said that the suspect, Cpl. Armin Alanza of the 604th Regional Mobile Force Battalion, was interviewed at the hospital where he is recuperating.

Brigido Dulay, IAS inspector general, earlier assured the public of the agency’s commitment to transparency and justice. 

“We will not tolerate any abuse of authority or violations of duty, especially by those sworn to protect and serve the public,” Dulay said. — Mark Ernest Villeza