Police files

PDEA OFFICIAL CLEARED

A CEBU City trial court cleared yesterday an official of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas (PDEA-7) on charges of homicide.

Regional Trial Court Judge Bienvinido Saniel of Branch 20 found no sufficient basis to hold Levi Ortiz liable for the death of a neighbor in barangay Lagtang, Talisay City, nine years ago.

Ortiz, who is presently the deputy director of the PDEA-7, was a police officer when the incident happened.

In his ruling, Saniel considered Ortiz’s decision to shoot Leonardo Reyes an act of self-defense.

“The court also noted that Ortiz harbored no ill motive against Leonardo as prior to the incident they did not even personally know each other,” he added.

Ortiz admitted shooting Reyes.

However, Ortiz said he  tried to arrest Reyes for brandishing a firearm in a billiard hall.

Ortiz said he fired two warning shots and introduced himself as a policeman when he approached the victim.

Ortiza said Reyes pointed a gun at him that forced him to shoot him. /REPORTER ADOR VINCENT S. MAYOL

PUJ DISPATCHER KILLED

A DISPATCHER was shot and killed in front of a pharmacy in Fuente Osmeña, Cebu City, last Tuesday night.

Felipe Delola Gallarde, 32, a resident of sitio Maharlika barangay Sambag 2, Cebu City, suffered gunshot wounds in the head.

Police said Gallarde was sitting on a gutter when two men arrived and shot the victim several times.

Police said reports of rivalry among the dispatchers in the area is being looked into as a possible motive in the killing.

In a separate incident,  Marianito Pasicaran Mantua , 38, of barangay Pasil, was shot dead repeatedly while standing by the road in sitio Mahayahay, barangay Labangon. /CORRESPONDENT CHITO O. ARAGON

MAN SHOT DEAD BY NEIGHBOR IN LILOAN

A 60-YEAR-OLD man was shot dead by his neighbor in barangay Tayud, Liloan town, northern Cebu, last Tuesday afternoon.

Police said personal grudge was the motive in the killing of Maximo Seraspe.

The suspect, Adonis Cuyos, was arrested by police in a follow-up operation.

Police investigation revealed that Seraspe went out of his house in Cuyos Compound to let his dog pee past 2 p.m.

Witnesses told the police that while Seraspe was leaning on an electric post, Cuyos arrived, placed his arm around Seraspe’s neck, drew a .357 revolver and shot the victim in the back.

Cuyos fled after the attack while Seraspe was brought to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City but did not make it alive.

Cuyos hailed a habal-habal (motorcycle-for-hire) that h brought him to his mother’s house in brangay Calero,. Pursuing policemen cornered Cuyos shortly before 3 p.m.

Police said Cuyos resisted arrest. He tried to escape but he was shot in the left leg by PO3 Jason Gayo.

Police recovered a .357 revolver that Cuyos placed in a pail of water. /CORRESPONDENTS RHEA RUTH V. ROSELL AND NORMAN V. MENDOZA