Loot wounded in gun accident
AMID SECURITY PROTOCOL
Controversial Daanbantayan, Cebu Mayor Vicente Loot was wounded after he accidentally shot himself Wednesday evening while in the middle of executing his supposed security protocol.
Loot, who was tagged by President Rodrigo Duterte as a drug protector, suffered a gunshot wound to the left leg.
“Nothing serious, thru-andthru ang bala. No nerves and bones na tinamaan,” Loot said in a text message.
According to Loot, he came from the wake of his deceased supporter in Barangay Lanao before the accidental shooting happened past 8 p.m. As part of his security measures, Loot transferred to another vehicle on his way home about 200 meters away from where he came from.
“I transferred to the vehicle my security is riding and sat where he vacated. It’s dark and I feel I sat on something so I reached down using my left hand para kapain kay ngitngit man. Baril pala. Duon pumutok it went thru sa upuan ng front seat downwards hitting my legs,” Loot narrated.
Lawyer Russel Pernites, Loot’s spokesperson, explained that the transfer to another vehicle is part of the mayor’s security protocol every time he comes from any personal engagement or official trip.
Loot and his family were ambushed over two weeks ago at Maya Wharf which left two of his drivers and a nanny injured.
“In light of the incident that happened last May 13, 2018, any and all matters pertaining to the safety and security of Mayor Vic Loot and his family cannot be taken lightly. This brings na opportune time to reassess and reconsider his security protocols as well as look into the incident for proper action,” Pernites said.
Pernites assured the public, especially the people of Daanbantayan, the mayor is now in a good condition.
MISSING GUN
Daanbantayan Police Station chief Senior Insp. Adrian Nalua said the mayor was with his two drivers, two police escorts, and two Civil Security Unit personnel of Daanbantayan when the accidental shooting happened.
Nalua said they could not determine the owner of the gun because they failed to recover it. Loot claimed the gun was inside the vehicle owned by his friend, retired police inspector Jose Dupay. Nalua said they did not find the gun inside the vehicle and no one from among the security escorts of Loot could tell where the gun is and who owns it. Nalua believes that the gun maybe unregistered.
“Ang ingon kay naa sa passenger seat pero wala man, unya ingon pud kay wala na sila kahibawo. During sa inspection sa sakyanan kay nakita nato nga anaay mga dugo ug anaay igo sa sakyanan pa-downward sa ligid sa atubangan,” said Nalua.
Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) director Senior Supt. Manuel Abrugena directed Nalua to look deeper into the incident.
“Alamin ang tunay na nangyari, bakit nagkaroon ng firearm? Bakit may presence ng firearm sa sasakyan na iyon? Lahat ay pinag-aralan natin whether ito ay sa kasama niya or nasa ilalim ng kanyang pag-iingat,” said Abrugena.
Abrugena asked Loot to surrender the firearm to help them in the investigation.
“I am asking the mayor na i-surrender ang baril na nakatama sa kanya para makatulong sa ating investigation na ginagawa. Hindi natin nasisiguro kung license o unlicensed firearm iyon,” Abrugena said.
Loot, a retired police general, was ordered in 2016 to turn over all his firearms after the Philippine National Police revoked all his gun licenses following the announcement of Duterte naming him as drug protector.
Loot has 14 firearms registered under his name but only 12 were surrendered because the two – one caliber .40 and caliber .38 – are allegedly missing. He was also stripped of his administrative and operational control of the town police.
Loot has since denied the allegations of Duterte. He even volunteered to have his house checked by the police for any traces of illegal drugs he allegedly kept in one of the rooms inside his house. His invitation, however, was turned down by the Police Regional Office-7.