Off-duty cop shoots, kills armed man in Talisay City

An armed person who was also a suspect in a mauling incident was shot dead by an off-duty police officer of Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) in Zone 4, Barangay Candulawan, Talisay City on Sunday evening.

The fatality was identified as Nonito Fantonial, 36, a resident of the place.

Talisay City Police Station chief Superintendent Marlu Conag said that a certain Rowena Labado, 34, went to the residence of Police Officer 1 Jake Bacalso, an operative of CCPO assigned at the City Mobile Force Company to ask for help after Fantonial, together with others, allegedly mauled Dindo Soterol, 28, of Barangay Toong, Cebu City.

Conag said that Soterol was in the area to attend a fiesta celebration.

“Lasing din kasi itong suspect (Fantonial) at saka fiesta doon kaya nandoon ang victim,” said Conag.

PO1 Bacalso allegedly went to the area and introduced himself as a police officer.

However, Fantonial allegedly got furious and even slapped Labado. He allegedly grabbed her neck and pushed her to the road pavement.

Bacalso tried to pacify the suspect but Fantonial allegedly punched the police officer hitting his right eye.

Conag said that after hitting Bacalso, the suspect pulled out a gun tucked in his waistband and shot Bacalso. Fortunately, the police officer was able to evade. He fired back hitting Fantonial in the left cheek and left abdomen.

The suspect was rushed to the nearest hospital was declared dead on arrival.

Conag said that Bacalso is now under their custody for investigation and filing of case.

“Ipa-file pa din ang kaso kasi parte iyun ng proseso,” said Conag.

Talisay City police also confiscated the service firearm of Bacalso and it will be subjected to a ballistic examination.

Both Bacalso and Fantonial will undergo a paraffin test.

Conag said that they recovered a .38 caliber handgun with live ammunition from Fantonial.

Meanwhile, CCPO Director Senior Superintendent Royina Garma said that they are submitting their personnel to Talisay City Police Station for investigation.

Garma said that it’s part of police standard operating procedure.

But Garma said Bacalso was only doing his job.

“In his case, kasi it’s not a result of a police operation na planned. Off siya. Umuwi para magpahinga, nagkataon lang na na-engaged siya and he was forced to use his firearm para depensahan ang sarli niya at depensahan din iyung mga residente roon," Garma added.

MBG