Iggy and Mike
Insp. Gerome Sherwin B. Gonsadan, a member of the police Special Action Force (SAF), shot and killed a restaurant waiter, Bander Faisal Davoc, for giving him the bill for the bulalo (beef stew) he and his companions devoured.
Gonsadan, who was said to be drunk, resented it when he was told to pay the bill.
He drew his pistol, cocked it and pointed it at Davoc.
The waiter ran to the nearest police station to report the incident.
With three cops in tow, Davoc was on his way back to the restaurant when he ran into Gonsadan who shot him in the head.
The police lieutenant was promptly arrested by the policemen who were with Davoc.
A murder case has been filed in the Office of the City Prosecutor in Baguio City against Gonsadan.
But what do you know! Inquest Prosecutor Maria Nenita A. Opiana downgraded the charge to homicide.
Either Opiana is a friend of Gonsadan or she’s plain incompetent.
A case of murder, which is a nonbailable offense, should have been filed against Gonsadan.
The crime had two elements: Premeditation and superior strength (use of a gun against an unarmed victim).
Ms Opiana, didn’t it occur to you that Gonsadan most probably had murder on his mind when he met the victim on the street and shot him in front of responding policemen?
* * *
Here are excerpts of Opiana’s inquest resolution downgrading the case against Gonsadan from murder to homicide and my corresponding comments.
“Homicide is committed when a person is killed (Of course! When an insect is killed, it’s not homicide; it’s insecticide. Hehehe!—RT).
To qualify it to murder, any of the qualifying circumstances set forth by law, should be clearly established … Taking all these into consideration, none of the qualifying circumstances to make the killing murder, has been established (How about premeditation and use of superior strength?—RT).
I am not a lawyer, but I can distinguish between murder and homicide.
It’s plain common sense, which, obviously, some people do not have.
* * *
Rep. Iggy Arroyo, brother-in-law of former President Gloria, is now home from London after weeks of legal battle for his body’s custody by two women.
The women are his estranged wife, Aleli, and his longtime live-in partner, Grace Ibuna.
Iggy knew how to choose his women.
Iggy was more humble and approachable and friendlier than his brother Mike who was arrogant even before he became “first gentleman.”
* * *
In a restaurant in Greenhills, San Juan City many years ago, Mike Arroyo was seen with a Chinese-looking woman.
Mike and the woman were apparently drawing attention to themselves since they were quarreling.
Witnesses said Mike had a shouting match with his companion.
When Mike and the woman left the restaurant, several Chinese men, who were customers, allegedly ganged up on him.
How he was able to explain his bruises to Gloria is anybody’s guess.
