RSOG cop dies

SPO1 Roderick Balili, the policeman who figured in what authorities said was an accidental firing that hit him twice in the chest, passed away last Friday night.

That day, he was reportedly still in stable condition.

“Initially siguro, nabuhi siya… wala lang ka-survive ang iyang lawas sa igo sa bala. Wala pa mi kabasa sa medical report,” said PRO-7 spokesperson, Police Supt. Reyman Tolentin.

Last week, unverified reports surfaced accusing Balili, who was an operative of the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG), as the alleged perpetrator of slain Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agent Von Rian Tecson.

Before he died, Tecson reportedly managed to fire back at the gunman before the latter was able to flee the area of the ambush.

Tecson was ambushed while on his way home in Carcar City last August 8, just an hour after Balili was allegedly victimized by accidental firing.

PRO-7 Director, Chief Supt. Debold Sinas was quick to deny any connection between the two incidents.

Tolentin also said witnesses, including Tecson's driver at that time, have said that Balili could not have been the suspect because the gunman reportedly has a small build.

“Well witnesses, including sa driver niingon nga dili siya mao kay maba (small build) daw to nga tawo (suspect). He was the very person nga nag-witness didto. All others wala didto, so ang uban nga sulti remain a perception,” Tolentin said.

Balili, together with two other colleagues in RSOG, were reportedly sent to Pinamungajan town, about 32 kilometers away from Carcar City, to conduct surveillance against a high value target identified as Baselio Nilo Querante, a former policeman.

Balili reportedly got wounded when his colleague passed to him the 9mm service firearm and accidentally fired and hit him when they met a major road hump in a still undetermined barangay in Pinamungajan.

“Naa man gyod mga pusil nga butangan og piyesa ilabi na ang Gloc puwede na butangan piyesa nga mamahimo siyang automatic. Automatic kung nibuto siya para ang iya buto masunod-sunod," Tolentin said.

"Naa siya'y glock (9mm Gloc), but naa sa trigger gamay lang kaayo so kung naka-chamber load ka kung mahulog na siya or kung mapukpok puwede na siya accidentally mubuto,” he added.

Meanwhile, Police Chief Insp. Alfredo Kuhay of the Pinamungajan Police said no incident of such nature was reported at his station.

They, however, received a call from a concerned citizen a gun firing inside a vehicle but details of the report were reportedly sketchy.

“Naay nitawag nako sa akong personal number apan wala na muhatag pa og laing detalye. Nagpaabot mi nga mutawag balik apan wala. Daghan man sad gud usahay og mga false alarm ta nga madawat,” Kuhay said in a phone interview.

Tolentin said it is possible that Balili's companions might have not thought of reporting the incident to the police immediately because they had to rush him to the hospital in Naga City.

On the lack of coordination between RSOG and the Pinamungajan Police, Tolentin said:

“Well, if you're conducting surveillance especially if you're from the Regional (office), naay mga instances nga dili naka kinahanglan makig-coordinate kay basen masunog ang trabaho. That's why you have to apply skills in gathering information nga dili mahibaw-an. Kung naa nay operation, mao na ang aduna ta'y SOP (standard operating procedure) nga kinahanglan aduna tay coordination. Kanang operation nga adunay dakpon, raid.”

He said Balili's colleague's in RSOG are now under investigation and may face administrative charges for negligence.

PRO-7 is looking into the possibility of giving Balili full police honors during his burial.

Tolentin said Balili had no derogatory record in his PNP service since his entrance in the organization in 2004.

In fact, Balili received numerous awards, including at least nine Medalya ng Kagalingan and Medalya ng Kasanayan.

Before joining RSOG in 2016, Balili was assigned at the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) Intelligence Branch.

RSOG deputy chief, Police Senior Insp. Ricardo Tero, described Balili as kind and very hardworking.

“Buotan kaayo na siya. Trabahante nga pagkapolis. Wala na siya'y mga derogatory records. Daghan man gane na siya og gi-handle nga kaso,” Tero said.