THE suspect in the rape-slay of a 16-year-old girl was killed inside the Talomo Police Station on Thursday, June 28, after he allegedly attempted to grab the handgun of a pregnant police officer, prompting other cops to respond and shoot him.
Based on the spot report, the incident took place at around 7:20 a.m. on June 28, while a police officer was preparing to take the fingerprints of suspect James Barrete Narte.
Narte, 35, who was facing rape with homicide charges, was shot by an officer at the Finger Print/Traffic Section of the police station when he tried to snatch a pistol.
The report said that while fingerprint technician Police Officer (PO) 1 Nierca Mutia Ambong was preparing to take the fingerprints of Narte, the latter attacked her and pummeled her while attempting to grab the firearm of the duty jail guard PO1 Kathllen Rose Antoneth C. Pelino who was escorting him.
“A grappling scenario ensued between the jail guard and the detainee... the police officer desperately tried to take control of the situation and the suspect. In the course of their violent scuffle the pistol fired thereby hitting the ceiling and another three shots were fired hitting the wall beside the door,” the report said.
After hearing the commotion and gun shots inside the section, other officers who were in the vicinity responded.
The injured detainee was rushed to the nearest hospital, where he was declared dead by his attending physician.
Talomo Police Station commander Police Chief Inspector Ronald Lao, in an interview with SunStar Davao, said the incident was beyond their control.
He belied reports that the incident was staged.
He said that at that time, he was leading the Oplan Kalinaw in Maa when he received the information of the shooting incident involving his pregnant personnel, who was likewise brought to Brokenshire Hospital after the incident due to stomach pain.
Lao said they could not pull such an act since the suspect has been arrested and detained, and was already facing charges.
“He has been arrested however he tried to resist and grabbed the firearm. There would have been no problem if he cooperated,” he said.
He also defended the acts of his men, noting that what they did was merely self-defense considering the dangerous situation. He believed that it was a desperate move on the part of the suspect because during his interview with his fellow detainees, the night before the incident, they noticed that the suspect was restless inside the prison.
Lao said that automatically, a motu proprio investigation would be conducted since the incident happened inside the police station involving a police officer.
He also welcomed any investigation regarding the incident, underscoring that they have nothing to hide to begin with.
Asked whether there was a close circuit television in their police station that captured the incident, he said there was none.