A MAN, who ran amok, was killed by a responding police officer at Barangay Fabrica in Sagay City, Negros Occidental Sunday night.
Police identified the fatality as Ruel Luneta, 30, of the said village.
Chief Inspector Robert Mansueto, city police chief, said Nanette Nava called for police assistance after Luneta, allegedly chased his three minor children and nephew with a sugarcane cutter, when they passed by the suspect's house.
When the police arrived, they saw Luneta holding a bladed weapon.
Police negotiated to calm him down and urged him to drop his weapon, but he attacked the two members of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT), who managed to run and were unharmed.
Luneta then saw Senior Police Officer 1 Ronie Sanico, who was armed with an M16 rifle, and chased him.
Sanico told him to stop but the suspect kept on chasing him, prompting him to fire a warning shot. Luneta, however, was not hit.
Sanico fired again and hit Luneta on his hand. But, the suspect still pursued Sanico, prompting him to fire again, hitting the suspect on his chest.
Luneta was able to run inside his house, where he was later found lying on the ground. He was brought to a hospital, where he was declared dead.
Police recovered from the scene a 14-inch bladed weapon.
Mansueto said the suspect started to become unruly and aggressive due to the effects of illegal drugs.
His family even alleged that he became mentally-ill because of drugs, the city police chief added.
Mansueto said they received complaints against Luneta due to his rude behavior but no charges were filed because complainants failed to pursue cases.
Meanwhile, Mansueto said they disarmed Sanico while he is facing investigation regarding the incident.
During the police response, police are advised to bring long firearms, Mansueto said.
Mansueto said Sanico is under the police custody, despite it happened during a legitimate operation.
Mansueto also said that they welcome the decision of the suspect's family if they will pursue charges against the policeman. (GYM)