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Monday, January 07, 2008
3 robbers kill Mandaue cop
CEBU CITY -- A policeman was killed and another was badly wounded in their attempt to stop three robbers from fleeing in a tricycle before dawn Sunday, in a shadowy part of Mandaue City’s reclamation area.
Gunshot wounds in the head and stomach killed SPO1 Pedro Sucion, while his partner, PO2 Darius Conejos, remained in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Chong Hua Hospital as of 4 p.m. for two gunshot wounds in the chest.
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The incident raised questions on the Mandaue City police force’s ability to respond swiftly to calls for help.
After the shooting, Conejos managed to radio his unit, the Police Station 1 in Barangay Centro, but his colleagues had to relay his call for help to the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) because they did not have a patrol car.
“We have been helping our police. In fact, we pulled out vehicles such as vans and motorcycles from some of our offices and gave these to our police force. But still I admit there is a need to improve their mobility,” Mayor Jonas Cortes said in a phone interview.
He said he will meet with the city’s police director on Monday to discuss their needs in improving crime prevention and police efficiency.
Sucion, 50, and Conejos, 35, were on a night patrol when they chanced upon three unidentified men rushing to ride a tricycle, around 3 a.m. They each drove their personal motorcycle and it was a gunshot that prompted them to stop and investigate.
They stopped the tricycle driven by Belmar Arnado when they saw three men in their early 20’s rushing to board it. But as they approached, one of the unidentified men who was inside the tricycle called Sucion by his nickname, Pete, and shot him once.
Driver robbed
Before Conejos could fire back, the other suspect sitting behind the driver shot him twice. Both officers fell, but Conejos managed to stagger near his parked motorcycle.
The suspect who shot Sucion then alighted from the tricycle and pumped a bullet in the policeman’s head before stealing his pistol.
He and his two companions then fled on foot, in different directions.
PO3 Arnulfo Quiachon Jr. of the investigation and detection section of MCPO said that despite his wounds, Conejos drew his gun, but failed to fire until the robbers disappeared because he forgot to release the safety lock on his pistol.
The culprits apparently robbed taxi driver Arnel Quibot, 30, of P2,000 in earnings before encountering Sucion and Conejos. They reportedly fired at Quibot, but missed.
They then ran to the corner of the street where Arnado parked his tricycle. As they boarded it, Sucion and Conejos, who were drawn by the gunfire, saw them.
MCPO’s intelligence operatives extended their search for the suspects up to the cities of Naga and neighboring Lapu-Lapu, but as of last night had no positive results to report.
P100T reward
They picked up a few persons for questioning, but released them after witnesses vouched for them.
Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna said he will discuss with Mayor Cortes a plan to offer P100,000 for those who can identify the three robbers.
“This is a case of robbery, murder and attempted murder. We have to show that we are squarely behind our police force,” he told Sun.Star Cebu.
The need for more police operatives is also a challenge in Mandaue, not only the lack of vehicles and other equipment.
Including Sucion and Conejos, the Police Station 1 only has 20 personnel, including those rendering administrative work.
Stations 1 and 2 were supposed to contribute one policeman each to conduct night patrols in the reclamation area, but because Station 2 could not send anyone that night, Sucion was called up to report even if he was sick.
Sacrifice
He had a fever. His wife Charlene had tried to prevent him from reporting.
“Sige lang ning duha ug `Yes, Sir, yes, Sir’, kon akong sugoon. Walay balibad pero hain hinoon ning buotan nga mga police mao’y madisgrasya (These two never refused an order. It’s a pity that our most dedicated policemen are the ones who end up in the line of fire),” said Station 1 Chief Siegfried Toribio.
He admitted that Conejos had served a six-month suspension until July 31 last year, but that the case involved family matters.
Conejos reported back to work on Aug. 1, but until now the Director for Personnel Records Management (DPRM) in Camp Crame has yet to restore his salary.
“Luoy kaayo ko aning bataa kay sige tawon ug trabaho bisan ug walay sweldo. Karon nga napusilan sa tulisan asa man intawon na ug ibayad sa hospital (I feel so sorry for him, that he keeps on working without pay. Where’s he going to get the money for his hospital bills now?),” Toribio said.
Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Ronald Roderos, who arrived Sunday afternoon from Manila, said he will give Medals of Valor to the two policemen.
He also assured to look into the status of Conejos’ salary, given that his suspension ended months ago.
Dedication
Roderos, however, also said the incident raised the need for the police to resume training on police intervention techniques and close-quarter battles.
He admitted that logistics and a manpower shortage are the prevailing problems in all police units, not only in Mandaue City.
Sucion’s wife, Charlene, said that had her husband listened to her and their 17-year-old daughter, he would not have died.
“Nagkurog pa gud intawon to siya tungod sa iyang hilanat. Unya gimassage siya sa among anak pero pagtawag sa iyang mga kauban nga mo duty siya wala gyud siya papugong namo (He had chills, but the minute his colleagues called him to work, he wouldn’t let us stop him),” she said in between sobs.
She said she and her husband had agreed to work on his optional retirement beginning Monday, because his 27 years in service—starting as a member of the defunct Philippine Constabulary—was already enough and besides, they only have one child. (AIV)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Manila. (January 7, 2008 issue)
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