Loot declines paraffin test

POLICE EYE RAPS VS GUN OWNER

Daanbantayan Mayor Vicente Loot refused to submit himself to a paraffin test to determine if he had fired a gun following his claim that he accidentally shot himself in the left leg Wednesday evening.

Daanbantayan Police Station chief Senior Inspector Adrian Nalua said they have requested the Crime Laboratory-7 to conduct a paraffin test on Loot but the mayor declined.

Lawyer Russel Pernites, Loot’s legal counsel, said his client was willing to undergo the test but decided not to because of the unnecessary pain the process would entail.

“Members of the police from the crime lab visited Mayor Loot today to request for a paraffin test. The mayor was willing to undergo the paraffin test but decided not to because of the unnecessary pain.

He, however, admitted to the police officers present that his left hand touched the gun when he reached for it and that the trigger was accidentally pulled while the gun was on his left hand,” Pernites told The FREEMAN.

Cebu Provincial Police Office director Senior Supt. Manuel Abrugena said they cannot force Loot to submit to the test.

“Ito po ay boluntaryong process at right po ito ng isang indibidwal,” Abrugena said.

Abrugena said they could not determine whether the mayor's claims were true because the gun that allegedly went off and hit him could not be found.

CHARGES

Abrugena said they are eyeing possible criminal charges against the owner of the gun. But, he said they need to identify the owner first before any charges could be filed.

“Sa kasalukuyan po ay patuloy pa din namin hinahanap ang firearm na nakaaksidente kay Mayor Loot. Titingnan natin kung ano ang possible na case na puwedeng ma-file kung sino man ang may-ari ng baril,” Abrugena said.

“Pupuwede natin siyang makasuhan ng pag-iingat ng baril ng hindi lisensiyado kapag napatunayan natin ito,” Abrugena added.

None of Loot's security escorts, including two policemen and Civil Security Unit personnel of Daanbantayan town, admitted ownership of the gun.

“Wala gyuy niangkon nila pulos nang-deny,” said Nalua.

Loot claimed he accidentally shot himself while in the middle of executing his security protocol. He came from the wake of his deceased supporter in Barangay Lanao before the accidental shooting happened past 8 p.m. on Wednesday.

Loot, who was tagged as drug protector by President Rodrigo Duterte and had been subject of strafing incident three weeks ago, said that part of his security protocol is to transfer vehicle every time he comes from any personal and official engagements.

According to Loot, he unintentionally sat on the gun in the passenger seat as he transferred to the vehicle used by his security escort. The mayor said he tried to reach for the gun but accidentally pulled the trigger. Loot was rushed to the hospital where he is now recuperating.