Amok shot dead after killing man

A construction worker went berserk then stabbed dead a fruit vendor and hurt another man before being gunned down by policemen last Wednesday evening in Barangay Cogon West, Carmen, Cebu.

Police said Roel Collamat, a native of Barangay Laaw, Borbon, Cebu, was suffering from depression and may also have been high during the incident.

Senior Police Officer 1 Arnel Manos said fruit vendor Emar Penidez, 40, a native of Calatrava, Negros Occidental, and Nolly Cabahug, 30, a resident of Barangay Cogon West, were sleeping beside the road when the suspect approached the two and started stabbing Penidez for no apparent reason.

Penidez died after suffering multiple stab wounds while Cabahug, who was only stabbed once in the abdomen, was able to escape and report the incident to the police station.

Manos said Police Officer 2s Ever Villacarlos, Everett Capuyan, and Glenn Molina, responded to the alarm and asked the suspect to surrender.

However, the armed suspect reportedly charged at the policemen forcing them to shoot him in the arm and leg. When this failed to stop him the policemen fired more shots.

“Wala na’y nahimo ang atong kapulisan kung dili pusilon and suspek,” said Manos.

Collamat was rushed to the hospital, but died along the way. Manos said investigation revealed that the suspect was depressed because of family problems. Allegedly, the suspect did not come to work that day and returned that night drunk.

The police also believed that the suspect was high on drugs after a pack of suspected shabu was found in his pocket by the nurses in the hospital.

Manos also said that they will coordinate with the Borbon police to find out if the suspect is involved in illegal drugs in the town.

Q. Moradas/BRP