Inmate grabs policewoman’s gun, shoots self in Pangasinan police station

DAGUPAN CITY — A farmer shot himself on Thursday (Nov. 1) using a gun he took from a female police officer at Asingan municipal police station in Pangasinan province where he had been detained.

Rodolfo Vibora Jr., 38, died from a self-inflicted bullet wound on his right temple, according to SPO2 Rodrigo Flores, Asingan police investigator.

Vibora was detained for gunning down his brother-in-law on Oct. 25. The farmer allegedly took the service weapon of PO1 Jessa Mae Laganina as she gave food to another prisoner inside the cell about 11:30 a.m.

Vibora demanded to see his wife, who works abroad, and then said he wanted to see his daughter, Flores said. “He must have been too stressed because he was also lamenting that all his relatives hated him for killing his brother-in-law,” he said.

Chief Insp. Ador Tayag, Asingan police chief, tried to pacify Vibora and asked him to surrender the gun, a Glock 17 9mm pistol.

Supt. Virgilio Pascua Jr., deputy provincial director, also attempted to negotiate with Vibora.

But Vibora aimed the pistol at his head and squeezed the trigger./lb