Cop who killed, 'drug courier' to get merit

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Police Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe will give a formal commendation to PO1 Christopher Cuizon for the latter’s bravery in killing a certain Junifer Pepito during a shootout last Thursday evening.

Buenafe said he will give the commendation on Monday next week during the flag raising ceremony.

“He deserves it,” Buenafe told The FREEMAN on the phone.

City Intelligence Branch (CIB) Chief Romeo Santander said they are still waiting for the final report on the incident from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the CCPO- Homicide.

Cuizon, a field training policeman, was manning a checkpoint together with six other policemen at New Imus Road in Barangay Lorega San Miguel when the back rider of a motorcycle tried to escape when the cops discovered that the vehicle had an expired registration. The policemen also discovered that the motorcycle had a fictitious plate number and bore a U-box with five disposable syringes and one ampule.

Noticing that he was in trouble, Pepito, the one driving the motorcycle, also ran, prompting Cuizon to chase him. When both reached the Museo Sugbo along M.J. Cuenco Avenue in barangay Tejero, Cuizon fired a shot at Pepito, but missed. Cuizon fired back and hit Pepito on the shoulder and upper chest, which caused the latter’s best. 

Cuizon subsequently submitted himself to the responding officers of the CCPO- Homicide Unit and surrendered his .45 caliber pistol.

Recovered from the crime scene were a .357 paltik revolver, 3 pieces live ammunitions of .38 revolver, two empty shells of a .38 revolver and a magnum, a .45 caliber pistol, one magazine, five live ammunitions, and three empty shells of a .45 caliber pistol. Santander said the incident was a pure shootout and it was Pepito who fired his firearm first based on their initial investigation. However, the PNP will no longer file a case against Cuizon.

“Cuizon was doing the right thing since dangerous pud sa uban ang place kay open ra ba kuyaw ug naay laing maigo,” Santander said. — (FREEMAN)