2 cousin cops ‘shoot’ each other, died

CEBU, Philippines - Two police officers who are cousins died after they reportedly shot each other over a heated argument in Barangay Guadalupe Saturday evening.

Police identified the fatalities as PO1 Anthony Gonzales, 29, and PO1 Rey Gabutan, 30.

Gonzales and Gabutan were fourth degree cousins, childhood friends and neighbors.

Gonzales was assigned with the Siquijor Provincial Police Office while Gabutan was with the Guadalupe Police Station of the Cebu City Police Office.

Initial investigation conducted by CCPO Homicide Section showed that Gabutan and Gonzales were at the living room of the house of another policeman, PO3 Arnel Palanas of the Dental Services of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7, in Barangay Guadalupe.

CCPO director Mariano Natuel said both policemen were not drunk as Gonzales just started drinking with Palanas and fellow policeman, PO2 Lejay Gumandal, and Gabutan just arrived to join them.

Natuel said an argument ensued between Gonzales and Gabutan when the latter reportedly advised the former to change his attitude if he wants to be transferred to Cebu.

Gonzales allegedly pulled out a caliber .45 pistol from his waist and shot Gabutan several times.

Wounded, Gabutan managed to get his caliber .38 revolver from his waist and shot Gonzales in the chest.

The two police officers were rushed to the Chong Hua Hospital.

Gonzales was declared dead on arrival while Gabutan succumbed, a few hours later, to multiple gunshot wounds in the body.

In an interview with Gonzales’ father, Victorio, he said the two cousins were close friends. 

Every time his son comes home to Cebu, he always sees Gabutan and they never had an argument.

Victorio sensed that there was foul play and they will seek help from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in the investigation.

He will request that Palanas and Gumandal, of the Detach Service of the Regional Operations and Plans Division 7, be subjected to a polygraph test.

Victorio also said they will ask for a second autopsy on Gonzales’ body.

Natuel said there was no foul play on the incident but Palanas and Gumandal were subjected to a paraffin test and their firearms, to ballistic test, to erase possible doubts.

Natuel said both Gabutan and Gonzales were prohibited from bringing their firearms because, aside the fact that they were off-duty, the Comelec gun ban is currently being implemented.

Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo, Jr., directed Natuel to conduct a thorough investigation on the death of the two police officers.

Garbo, in a press statement, expressed dismay and  disappointment over the incident.

 â€œThis is a despicable act manifesting a clear breach of discipline  particularly on the party involved who did the provocation, the unlawful aggression and ignored his standing order to strictly comply with Comelec laws, especially on the prohibition of carrying firearms by PNP personnel while not on official duty,” he said.

Garbo directed all police officials and commanders to do  follow-through supervision of  their men “to ensure utmost compliance” of the laws, rules and regulations of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The PRO 7 director considered the incident as an isolated case. — (FREEMAN)