‘Shooting in the line of duty’

The policewoman who shot dead a fleeing cellphone snatcher in Cebu City will be officially commended for her “exemplary” conduct.

PO2 Lea Juarez acted out of self defense, said her superior Senior Supt. Patronicio Comendador Jr., Cebu provincial police chief.

“You cannot be too specific and too tedious with the rules of engagement. What she did was in the line of duty,” said Comendador.

He said Juarez would be issued a commendation by the Cebu Provincial Police Office on Monday for her “courageous and exemplary performance” in foiling a robbery attempt.

The thief, Liel Alex Cabornay, was gunned down after he brandished a .45 pistol during a brief chase in barangay Capitol Site.

He was reported to be 17 years old by his cousin, who was also arrested, but police said they were verifying if the age was correct.

“We received reports that he (Cabornay) is 21 years old, but we still need to check on this.” Comendador said in Cebuano.

Juarez and another policeman on board a motorcycle happened to be passing by when Cabornay was wresting an iPhone and wallet from a female employee on a sidewalk of Cebu Business Park.

The 31-year-old woman was walking to the mall for lunch.

Cabornay and his 23-year-old cousin Richard Baculi, who fled on a motorbike, were cornered on M. Velez Street about five meters from the exit gate of the Cebu Capitol.

Comendador said it’s unnecessary to adhere strictly to the four points under the rules of engagement of operations if there is “imminent threat and danger” to the life of a police officer.

Comendador said the policewoman correctly shouted a verbal warning to the suspect and identified herself as a police officer.

“It can happen in just a split second. Common sense will dictate us when to use force,” he said.

In a TV report, the Commission of Human Rights (CHR) region 7 office said it will investigate the shooting and whether unncessary force was used.

The thief was shot in the stomach.

Juarez, a police officer for four years, said she aimed for the lower body to “neutralize” the suspect, but because he was moving, the bullet hit his stomach.

Juarez said it was her first time to shoot a perpetrator.

She said she had no intention to kill Cabornay and fired at him to protect herself.

Police recovered the stolen iPhone and brown wallet of the robbery victim and a .45 pistol with four bullets from Cabornay’s possession.

The black Yamaha Mio motorcycle used by Cabornay and Baculi was held under police custody.

Police said Baculi failed to present papers for the vehicle.

Insp. Romeo Santander, chief of the Cebu City police’s City Intelligence Branch, said they will verify what other cases Cabornay is linked to. With reports from Correspondents Gabriel C. Bonjoc and Chito Aragon