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Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Guards, cops in gunplay; 5 hurt
By Mia E. Abellana
CEBU CITY -- A shootout between two groups of security guards and a police team erupted Monday morning over a land conflict in Barangay Saavedra, Moalboal, Cebu.
Three security guards and two residents were wounded.
Moalboal Police Chief Virgilio Apurado was relieved while three of his policemen were placed under investigation for allegedly tampering with evidence in favor of Tri-Island Holdings Inc., which is claiming parcels of land in the southwestern town.
Conflicting claims make it unclear as to which of the two security groups who were protecting rival claimants and a police team nearby fired first.
Just as in previous clashes, the fencing of properties was the flashpoint.
Of the five persons injured, two were from Safeway Security Agency hired by some local residents who have land claims contested by Tri-Island Holdings, one was from Grandeur Security Agency hired by Tri-Island, and two were civilians.
Rodelon Callao, a resident, was just getting out of his house to urinate when he was shot.
A neighbor, Alfredo Abrenica, said they tried to bring Callao to a tricycle so that they could take him to a hospital, but the guards allegedly shot the pedicab.
Arvan Abrenica, who accompanied Callao in the tricycle, suffered a graze wound and was taken to the South General Hospital in Naga town, according to a police report.
Safeway's guards-Aurelio Avenido, who was wounded in the right side of his chest, and Richard Alicaste, who got shot in the right part of his jaw-were also taken to the same private hospital.
Elvira Igohogan and lawyer Diolita Aranas hired Safeway to keep watch over their lot.
Junrex Jubay of Grandeur Security Agency was also injured in the shootout shortly before 6 a.m.
Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia went to the town yesterday to check the situation.
Police arrested security guards from Grandeur-Armendazier Atega, Leoncio Pasquil, Vicente Tabaniag, Geovannie Cedeño, Ramil Libato, Benedicto Laborera and Mario Alcoser.
All seven were made to undergo a paraffin test to find out if any of them fired a gun at the residents.
Nine shotguns and a .38 revolver were also confiscated.
Later though, Chief Inspector Juanito Enguerra, head of the Provincial Intelligence and Investigation Branch (PIIB), told Sun.Star Cebu that they arrested 27 more men who strafed the homes.
He said that when police first went to the Tri-Island barracks, only a few guards were around.
However, witnesses approached them and said the guards who attacked them returned to the barracks, prompting the PIIB and some policemen from the Regional Mobile Group (RMG) to surround the barracks.
Residents said the guards, numbering about 60, were armed with high-powered firearms such as M14 rifles and Uzis.
But the guards from Grandeur Security said they were shot at first.
Tri-Island assistant administrative manager Brian Briones told Sun.Star Cebu that he sent two vans with seven guards and workers to fence three properties they had recently acquired.
Tri-Island Holdings has claimed several hectares covering three barangays in the southwestern town, about 89 kilometers from Cebu City.
Four policemen, three from the RMG and one from the Moalboal Police Station, though, said there were four vans. The guards on board allegedly attacked them even after they identified themselves as policemen.
Police Officer 1 Jeremias Geromo said they tried to stop them but were outnumbered.
The guards from Grandeur only fled after PO1 Juper Lopez called his superior, Insp. Alex Bejec based in Ronda town, for backup.
The exchange of gunfire happened after the arrival of the Grandeur blue guards and the men who were tasked to fence the properties. However, no one can say for sure who fired the first shot.
Moalboal Police Chief Apurado was ordered relieved from his post because of the incident.
Senior Inspector Joseph Mangaron replaced him, with instructions from Acting Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Vicente Loot.
Apurado, though, said he did not talk to Loot yet.
Chief Inspector Enguerra said the three policemen will be investigated after they allegedly picked up the handheld radio, digital camera and other pieces of evidence left on the ground, even after they were instructed not to touch the crime scene.
Enguerra disarmed Moalboal Police Deputy Chief SPO3 Moises Cantila after he allegedly moved evidence from the scene.
Cantila was off duty at the time, he said.
However, Cantila said that as deputy chief, he went to the area to conduct his own investigation and responded to the area when he learned about it.
Sun.Star Cebu is withholding the names of the two other cops pending their comment.
In the meantime, 24 men from the RMG have been detailed, while the tension remains high.
Loot also ordered the policemen to coordinate with the barangay tanods to constantly hold mobile checkpoints. (Sun.Star Cebu)
(December 20, 2005 issue)
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