PNP: No excessive force used vs armed church visitor
AUTHORITIES denied using excessive force in immobilizing Jeffrey Cañedo, the armed man who went to the Archbishop’s Palace on Tuesday, July 10, looking for Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma.
Abellana Police Station Chief Maria Theresa Catangay said the personnel of the Cebu City Mobile Patrol Group (MPG) who engaged Cañedo in a shootout talked with Cañedo’s father and other relatives after the incident on Tuesday afternoon, July 10.
And Macatangay said that the family understood the police who were just doing their job.
On Tuesday, Cañedo entered the Archbishop’s Palace and looked for Palma. He wore a helmet and a bonnet.
But Palace personnel, who noticed Cañedo was restless and troubled, called for police assistance.
Cañedo allegedly told police to leave, saying: “Nganong naa man mo diri (Why are you here)? Ayaw mo pag apil-apil ani (This is none of your business)!’ Then he pulled his gun and pointed to our police officers,” Police Regional Office-Central Visayas Director Debold Sinas said earlier.
The man reportedly did not heed the call of police officers to drop to the ground.
Isolated
Macatangay said there is no need for the public to worry as the incident is “isolated.”
“It was a case of a man who was depressed with his marital relationship,” she told reporters on Wednesday morning, July 11.
She said the priests in Cebu City did not report any threats.
“Wala man gyoy threat sa ilahang life,” Macatangay said.
Palma will receive close-in police escorts from PRO-Central Visayas.
Macatangay said Sinas will decide on the number of police officers who will secure Palma.
Uniformed police officers were already deployed outside the Archbishop Palace’s compound, while officers in plain clothes were assigned inside the compound. (SunStar Philippines)