Family of nurse shot by cops seeks CHR's help

CEBU, Philippines — The family of the 32-year-old nurse who was killed by police in a mall in Talisay City yesterday will seek help from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to conduct an investigation into his death.

It was reported that Michelle Jeff Gabuya allegedly refused to surrender after threatening customers inside a restaurant at Gaisano Fiesta Mall in Barangay Tabunok, Talisay City yesterday afternoon.

Gabuya is a nephew of Raul Cabañero, the head of the Talisay City Association of Barangay Councils.

Cabañero told reporters that it could have been possible for police to neutralize his nephew.

“Mangita gyud mi og hustisya sa kamatayon sa akong pag-umangkon. Moduol mi sa Human Rights magpa-imbestigar sa panghitabo. Ngano nga ingon ana ang panghitabo. Diskompyado ko sa nahimo sa police,” he said.

Cabañero said police should be well-trained and highly educated on crime investigation.

He believed that his nephew went to the restaurant to eat but received poor service, although he could not say when this happened.

“Nikaon, wala gitagad ang order. Nadawat ang order late nireklamo siya: 'Hain man akong order?' Ang samot, gi-deliver ang order dili mao which added insult,” he said.

He said during the incident on Monday, his nephew, who had just returned two weeks ago from working as a nurse in Canada, only wanted to confront the restaurant manager.

Cabañero also wanted to clarify that his nephew was not a robber.

“Wala nanulis ako pag-umangkon. Nakasala man siya sa publiko, patay naman siya pero wala nanulis,” he said.

For his part, Talisay City police chief Superintendent Jason Villamater said he found no lapses in the response of the policemen.

Early morning yesterday, he congratulated Police Officer 1 Erwin Denila and Police Officer 1 Romanito Dinapo for their quick response.

Villamater also urged the mall’s management to implement strict policies inside the mall.

Denila, in an interview, said that after hearing the gunshot, his partner Dinapo scanned the area to locate the suspect.

It was Dinapo who ushered customers to get out of the area, while Denila saw Gabuya talking with the restaurant’s manager.

After their short conversation, they saw Gabuya heading out of the restaurant still aiming his firearm.

Denila saw Gabuya trying to hold on to the senior citizen who was last to come out of the restaurant.

“Surrender! ana ko. Nipadayon man unya wala'y tingog-tingog. Ug ako maunhan ako mamatay ug siya maunhan siya mamatay dul-it kaayo. Kung ako itiil possible ako ang mamatay, self defense ako gibuhat,” Denila said.

Denila has been a police officer for 22 years while Dinapo has a seven-year experience.

According to initial investigation, police said they received reports that Gabuya has mental problems and has a temperamental attitude. Cabañero denied this, saying instead that his nephew was a loner since he was a child.

He added that Gabuya was depressed as he was recently separated from his wife.

Meanwhile, Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) lauded Denila and Dinapo for efficiently neutralizing an armed person inside the mall in last Monday's incident.

“Katong mga pulis nga ni-responde didto we can say that they are religiously doing their jobs, so effective,” PRO-7 Spokesman Reyman Tolentin said.

Tolentin said that the cops' actions manifest that the beat patrol system reinforced by Regional Director Jose Mario Espino is working.

“Sa atong system nga gipatuman ni Regional Director Espino, makita nato nga effective kay if naa gyud ka area nga religiously i-implement imong duty you should be there all throughout,” Tolentin said.

The main thrust of the beat patrol system is to put more cops on the streets, and hold them responsible for the area assigned to them.

“Katong sa Talisay nga napusilan sa pulis ang suspect, he was armed so there was a threat to everyone. Especially kung armado ka, we can justify the circumstance why napusilan siya sa pulis,” Tolentin said.

He added that police will look into the matter whether Gabuya had a license to carry firearms and if his firearm was registered.

He also said they will check if there was negligence on the part of the management because Gabuya brought the gun inside the mall without being detected.

“Kay anybody who enters the mall should be properly checked, law enforcements mu-register man, and mupahibaw sa gwardya. Kaning biktima napusilan, kung wala mu-register, natan-aw nato nga nakalusot, we will look into the actions of the guard kung ngano gipasulod,” Tolentin said. (FREEMAN)