Reenactment shows: No foul play in 2 cops’ death

CEBU, Philippines - The result of the reenactment conducted by the homicide section on the alleged shootout between two policemen in Barangay Guadalupe has precluded the possibility of a foul play.

Homicide investigator Ruth Violango said there was no other person involved in the deaths of Police Officers 1 Anthony Gonzales and Rey Gabutan. Violango said that the result of the reenactment was consistent to the testimonies of the witnesses that Gonzales and Gabutan shot each other after a heated argument last Saturday.

The two policemen were seated beside each other when suddenly an argument sparked between them resulting in the tragic shooting. The incident was witnessed by two other policemen, PO3 Arnel Palanas and PO2 Lejay Gumandal, as well as by the house owner Natalie Apostol and food vendor Victoria Saling.

The argument started when Gabutan advised Gonzales to change his attitude if he wants to be assigned in Cebu. The unsolicited advice triggered the whole thing.

Gonzales drew his firearm and shot Gabutan, who is also his fourth degree cousin. The latter managed to return fire.

Violango met with medico legal officer Dr. Nestor Satur yesterday to discuss the result of the reenactment because Satur’s autopsy report earlier suggested a possible foul play.

In fact, the family of Gonzales has already sought a separate investigation from the National Bureau of Investigation.

Cebu City Police Office director Senior Supt. Mariano Natu-el theorized that Gabutan was hit first in the nape and in the right temple when he tried to maneuver. He was again hit in the right arm while drawing his firearm to fire back at Gonzales and hit the latter in the heart.

Natu-el said that he consulted shooting experts who said that a caliber .45 pistol, which Gonzales allegedly used in shooting Gabutan, will not easily knock down the target when fired at close range.

“Ang knocking power sa cal. 45 is long distance, but kung duol, di kaayo katumba. Instinct sad sa pulis na mubunot og armas,” Natu-el added.

Nevertheless, Natu-el said they are waiting for the result of the paraffin test of the two other policemen present during the incident as well as the ballistic results of their firearms.

“Wa gyu’y white wash (in the investigation). We have nothing to gain. We’re seeking also for the truth,” said Natu-el as he welcomed the separate investigation being conducted by the NBI.

The NBI has formally started its own investigation yesterday by conducting a polygraph examination on Apostol and Saling. Polygraph examiner Zari Zamora said the two other policemen who witnessed the incident will also undergo the same test.

Zamora refused to divulge the result of the lie detector test on Apostol and Saling. Apostol in an interview with reporters after the polygraph test said that there was really no foul play in the deaths of Gonzales and Gabutan.

“No foul play. They killed each other after an argument. Gonzales pulled his gun then shot Gabutan while Gabutan managed to fire back,” she said.— (FREEMAN)