Man shot by cop he pelted with stones

CEBU, Philippines — A 43-year-old man was shot dead after he allegedly threw stones at a police officer who was there to stop him from hurting people along Escario St., Barangay Camputhaw yesterday afternoon.

Susanito Ellama who is from Iloilo City allegedly threw stones at a car owner in the area.

PO1 Berlino Ricafort, a beat patrol policeman who was in the area, responded to the alarm and tried to subdue Ellama.

SPO1 Lydio Libres of Abellana Police Station said that Ellama allegedly threw stones at Ricafort hitting him in the head.

Ricafort shot Ellama hitting his foot but the latter allegedly did not stop throwing stones at the police officer.  Ricafort was hit more than three times and was forced to shoot Ellama again.

Libres said Ricafort was “groggy and bleeding profusely” and although he wanted to shoot Ellama in the leg, he was hit in the stomach.

Chief Inspector Maria Theresa Macatangay, Abellana Police Station chief, said people in the area including motorcycle drivers helped Ricafort and allegedly hit Ellama’s head with their helmets several times.

Ellama died before reaching the hospital while Ricafort is now in stable condition.

Macatangay said that Ellama is not from Cebu and earlier yesterday, authorities at the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) sent him to Cebu City Medical Center after they noticed that he was not mentally stable.

“He was first intervened by the CPA and gi-secure padung CCMC kay dili kuno normal ang agi.  Pero pag-check wala may deperensya mao gipa-release ra sad. Mao wala ta confirmation if buang ba gyud,” she said.

Ellama had told the CPA personnel that he is in Cebu to attend an event of his daughter.

Lapu-Lapu Shooting

Meanwhile, in Lapu-Lapu City, a 67-year-old vendor was shot dead by an unidentified assailant in front of a bank in Barangay Poblacion yesterday dawn.

Demetrio Acaso Llanera, of Barangay Gun-ob, sustained two gunshot wounds to the back of his head and right shoulder causing his death.

Police Officer 2 Dan Gacoscosim, investigator of Lapu-Lapu City Police Office- Homicide Section, said that the victim was last seen walking along Metro Cebu Public Savings Bank in Barangay Gun-ob on his way to the public market.

He was reportedly drunk and was from restobar where he allegedly had a fight with other customers.

Police are considering personal grudge as possible motive although they are still conducting an investigation to identify the real motive of the shooting.

Two empty shells were recovered from the crime scene.

Gacoscosim said they will get video footage from the Nerve Command Center of the Lapu-Lapu City Hall to help them in their investigation. —/MBG (FREEMAN)