Suspected robber shot by town police chief

A SUSPECTED leader of a local robbery group is in critical condition after he was shot by the town police chief during a scuffle in Barangay Ilihan, Tabogon, Cebu at dawn yesterday.

Bryan Garcia, who suffered gunshot wounds in the stomach and shoulder, is confined at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

Tabogon Police Station Chief Lamberto Hibaya told Sun.Star Cebu the incident happened past 3 a.m.

Hibaya said they were on their way to the police station after arresting the 22-year-old Garcia in his house in Barangay Libho.

He said Garcia was able to get out of his handcuffs and tried to get off the patrol car. He said PO3 Alman Acabal held on to Garcia and the two men fell out of the vehicle.

Hibaya said Garcia

Bryan Garcia, 22, is in critical condition for bullet wounds in the stomach, shoulder Tabogon Police Chief Lamberto Hibaya says he had no choice but to shoot Garcia because the latter allegedly wanted to escape

tried, but failed to grab Acabal’s firearm.

Hibaya said he fired a warning shot using a 9mm pistol, but Garcia continued to resist.

Background

“Napugos ko og pusil niya una sa tiyan para maneutralize (I was forced to shoot him in the stomach to neutralize him),” the police chief said.

Despite his wound, Garcia allegedly still tried to escape.

Hibaya said he pulled out his .45 pistol and shot the suspect in the shoulder.

Garcia fell and was rushed to the district hospital, but was later transferred to Cebu City.

“Gahi kaayo. Dili gyud mo patuo (Garcia was stubborn. He wouldn’t listen),” Hibaya said.

Garcia allegedly hijacked a Ceres bus last Aug. 25 with three cohorts. They allegedly got away with P7,000 cash and a cellular phone.

The suspect was identified by witnesses and victims through a file photo stored in police station.

Hibaya said Garcia was also involved in several robbery incidents in the area and was arrested before, reportedly for murder.

Recovered from the suspect’s possession were a .38 snub-nosed revolver and a police uniform that he allegedly used during robberies.