A POLICE officer is facing murder and two counts of frustrated murder charges after shooting and killing a bus passenger and injuring two police officers at a checkpoint in Barangay Batasan, Makilala, North Cotabato, around 2:30 a.m. on December 28, 2024.
According to the police report, the suspect, PCpl Alfred Dawatan Sabas, assigned in General Santos City, was traveling on a Mindanao Star bus from GenSan with his wife. Allegedly intoxicated, he shot the victim, Reynaldo (name withheld), a security guard from Batasan, Makilala, in the head.
Following the shooting, the suspect reportedly ordered the bus to continue its journey. Upon reaching the checkpoint at the 1104th RMFB 11 border control point in New Opon, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur, the suspect claimed they were being followed by a van. The duty officer instructed his team to monitor the said van. Suddenly, the suspect opened fire at two police officers, hitting them in different parts of their bodies.
The injured officers, identified as PCpl Kenth Maurith Ramos and Pat. Russel Love Tapia, were rushed to the hospital. Meanwhile, the suspect fled in an unknown direction with his wife.
A hot pursuit operation was launched by the Magsaysay Municipal Police Station, along with personnel from the 1104th RMFB 11 and 1203rd RMFB 12. The operation successfully apprehended the suspect and his wife in New Opon. Authorities recovered a 9mm Canik pistol with three magazines containing 37 live rounds, along with other items.
Following the arrest, police officials from Region 11 and 12 coordinated to investigate the case, as the crimes occurred across two different regions and jurisdictions. It was agreed that the Makilala Municipal Police Station would file the murder charges, while the Magsaysay Municipal Police Station in Davao del Sur would file the two counts of frustrated murder charges. JRN