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Friday, June 20, 2003
Police major tagged in death of councilman
By Edwin G. Espejo
GENERAL SANTOS -- A barangay official was killed in a shooting incident that occurred inside a posh KTV bar here Wednesday midnight. His assailant? A police major.
Killed on the spot from a lone bullet to the face was Barangay North councilman Rubencito Mejia.
Members of the Anti-Crime Task Force (Aktaf) immediately arrested Police Chief Insp. Richard Garcia inside the Don's KTV Bar at the East Asia Royal Hotel arcade building after the incident.
Witnesses said Mejia's and Garcia's groups figured in a melee inside the bar after the barangay official's crowd accosted the police major's brother, Cesar, for annoying them.
Garcia's brother was identified as Corporal Cesar Garcia of the Army's 10th Special Forces Company based in Sirawan, Toril in Davao City.
Also involved in the rumble is the nephew of General Santos City Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr.
Army Col. Edgardo Gurrea, chief of the Joint Task Force Gensan, and his men, who happened to be in the area at the time playing billiards, immediately went inside the hotel and arrested Garcia.
The 46-year-old Garcia was brought to the Lagao police station.
He reportedly tried to resist arrest at first, and introduced himself to Gurrea as a member of the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division (RIID).
However, local police intelligence operatives here said they were not aware Garcia is attached to the RIID.
Lagao police station head Chief Insp. Melchor Provido said murder charges were filed against Garcia Thursday.
Witnesses said it could have been Acharon's nephew, Richard, who started it all by accosting Garcia's brother.
Garcia's brother allegedly annoyed the group of Acharon and Mejia by constantly passing by their table at the bar.
When Acharon confronted the younger Garcia, a fistfight ensued.
When Chief Insp. Garcia, who was in one of the VIP rooms with three other companions, he pulled out his .45 caliber pistol and shot Mejia when he saw his brother being attacked.
Mejia, 42, was brought to the St. Elizabeth Hospital but was declared dead on arrival by attending physicians.
Sources said the slug of the .45 caliber bullet failed to exit Mejia's head, indicating he was shot at close range.
Councilor Franklin Gacal Jr., who joined Acharon and Mejia and two other barangay officials from Jose Abad Santos town in Davao del Sur inside the videoke joint, said the incident happened so fast.
Gacal said he went outside to ask for police assistance when a shot rang out.
He then saw Garcia walk out from the videoke bar.
An unidentified policeman, who introduced himself also as a member of the RIID, interceded for Garcia and asked Gurrea to bring the police official to Camp Lira.
At the Lagao police station, Garcia tried to hide his identity and introduced himself as a businessman.
Sources, however, confirmed Garcia is an active member of the police but it is not clear what unit he belongs to.
Garcia listed his address at 30-F Road 5 West Crame, San Juan in Metro Manila.
He was brought to the PNP 12 crime laboratory Thursday afternoon where he underwent paraffin tests.
His gun was also submitted for ballistic examination.
Recovered from the crime scene was a spent shell of a .45 caliber pistol.
Provido said they are still trying to establish the identities of Garcia's three other companions.
Waiters inside the KTV bar however said they overheard one of Garcia's friends address their other companion as "colonel." Sun.Star General Santos
(June 20, 2003 issue)
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