Swat member nabbed, charged

THE Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) filed a complaint for homicide against a member of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) who shot dead an armed man last Wednesday.

PO2 Michael Baylon, 30, was arrested yesterday and is now in the custody of the SWAT.

He is expected to post bail today.

Baylon, together with PO2 Nemesio Paragsa, responded to an armed person alarm in Barangay Pahina-San Nicolas, Cebu City, near the Taboan Public Market.

The two Swat men told Marvelan Cañete Villanueva, who was armed with a 38 revolver, to surrender the gun but Villanueva alleged tried to shoot the policemen. This prompted Baylon to shoot him with an M16 riffle.

Villanueva, a driver, died on the spot after being hit in the chest and back.

Baylon, in an interview, said he will cooperate with the CCPO and understands that the filing of the case is a matter of procedure.

“We will let the court determine Baylon’s actions,” said CPPO Homicide Section Chief Jul Muhammad Jamiri.

Primo Cadampog of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) 7 said his office can investigate the case, if someone files a complaint against the policeman.

He said the CHR has yet to find evidence, like a video, which shows that Baylon’s actions were inappropriate.

He said CHR 7 received reports that Villanueva was drunk during the incident.

At present, he can only say Baylon’s action was a form of self-defense.

Baylon’s lawyer, Lani Villarino, said she will file a motion for reinvestigation and submit a counter affidavit to prove that Baylon’s action was within the bounds of a legitimate police operation.