CEBU – Policemen and other law enforces should be extra careful every time they conduct checkpoint operations against criminal elements so they will not end up being wounded or, worse, killed.
Mariano Calbario, 58, a tanod of barangay Lorega-San Miguel in Cebu City is now in serious condition at the hospital after one of two suspected robbers shot him during a checkpoint at Echavez corner Lorega Streets yesterday dawn.
It was reported that Calbario, together with police officers Aldrin Pelayo and Rey Ilagan, flagged down a passenger jeepney from Talamban going to the downtown area and ordered the persons on board to disembark for frisking.
The police and tanods were conducting a checkpoint in the area to respond to the series of robbery incidents victimizing passenger of public utility jeepneys.
While on the process of checking on the passengers, one of the suspected robbers, who was armed with an unidentified caliber of firearm suddenly shot Calbario who was standing near the rear portion of the PUJ.
Pelayo and Ilagan quickly responded and shot at the suspects but both policemen missed their targets who were able to escape by running towards the interior portion of barangay Lorega-San Miguel.
There was no immediate confirmation whether the checkpoint conducted by the two policemen and the barangay tanods were sanctioned by the Cebu City Police Office.
“Kinahanglang abtik unta sila. Kadto untang duha ka polis mao’y magtan-aw kon unsay gihimo sa mga tawo nga nanaug gikan sa sakyanan aron dili sila mabiktima,” a police officer said.
A few weeks ago, policemen who were conducting checkpoint along M.J. Cuenco Avenue shot and killed three alleged robbers after one of them tried to shoot a policeman.
Meanwhile, the elements of the Cebu City police investigation and detective management arrested two suspected robbers just a few hours after they reportedly held up a couple at the North Reclamation Area yesterday.
Michael Brigoli, 22, single of barangay Dakit, Sogod and Glen Estañero, 27, of sitio Mahayahay, Carreta, Cebu City were arrested by a police team headed by P03 Cesar Pandong.
A .38 cal. snub-nosed revolver was confiscated from Brigoli while a small sachet of shabu was recovered from Estañero.
Spouses Eduardo and Jocelyn Moral positively identified Brigoli as the one who robbed them of their cell phones worth P13,000 and cash amounting to P14,400.
The police however failed to recover the loots from the suspects. – Rene U. Borromeo/WAB (THE FREEMAN)