Female cop narrates her losing gun to drug suspect
TAGBILARAN CITY — A female police officer who lost but later recovered her governmentissued firearm to a drug suspect yesterday broke her silence and recounted the details of an incident, which was unheard-of in Bohol Police history, as she wanted to close that death-defying chapter of her life.
Police Officer 2 Arlene Manatad, speaking to The Freeman in an exclusive interview yesterday, said that contrary to insinuations found on social media accusing the policewoman of a failed attempt to kill Jundel Ocon Genobia, a drug suspect who snatched her Glock pistol during a buy-bust operation last Wednesday dawn.
Criticized online about the incident, Manatad disclosed that there actually was a physical struggle between her and Genobia when she, acting as poseur buyer, declared herself a police officer but prompted the latter to grapple with her gun.
"He was able to get hold of my gun," Manatad recalled, speaking in Bisaya, "but I was able to pull the trigger before he could snatch it from me."
Manatad said she was not aware whether she hit Genobia as it was still dark. The 3:30 a.m. buy-bust operation had led to the arrest of two of Genobia's companions---Danilo Yakit Dalmao and Brian Pumatong Pamisa---all residents of Upper Mansasa village in Tagbilaran City.
Genobia reportedly fled the scene the moment the suspect got hold of the cop's firearm. The incident happened too quickly that Manatad's back-up cops failed to arrest the suspect.
"He was too strong," Manatad said of Genobia. "I summoned all my strength when we wrestled over the gun. I am just grateful to God that he did not shoot me."
When news of a police officer who lost her gun to a drug suspect surfaced on Facebook posts, Manatad, 28, a single mother of a 10-year-old daughter, was attacked by Internet trolls, but the police officer from Buenavista town chose to keep her silence.
"I was traumatized," she said. "I had no time to deal with those who do not know the real situation and just want to criticize the police. I sustained a lot of bruises, and there were scratches all over my legs and arms after the incident."
Manatad is the lone policewoman in Bohol who passed this year's Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) rigorous training, qualifying her to be part of the province's elite combat forces.
Six hours after Genobia disappeared from the sight of Manatad, the suspect sought treatment at a government hospital in Tagbilaran City where he was eventually arrested. It was learned that Genobia was hit in the hip, and the bullet exited through the left side of his buttock.
Convinced by his brother to turn himself in to authorities, Genobia gave up the gun of Manatad through his brother. As Genobia was recuperating at the hospital, Manatad paid the suspect a visit on the same day death stalked her.
Manatad saild Genobia apologized to her and confessed to her that he was too scared to be killed by a police officer, prompting him to snatch the policewoman's gun.
"I also told him that I had no intention to kill him," Manatad said. "We are just doing our job and want to go with the process of the law," the SWAT member said.