4 cops locked up over Palawan shootout

PALAWAN, Philippines — Four police officers involved in the Good Friday shooting in Barangay Irawan, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, that killed two policemen and a jail personnel have been locked up for the filing of appropriate charges, police officials said on Monday.

Staff Sergeants Jonah Balangan, Michael Juan and Joseph Ian Carpio, and Cpl. Renato Bendaña had been disarmed and detained by the Police Regional Office 4B (PRO-Mimaropa).

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“They are detained for the filing of appropriate charges. Of course someone died. What can be filed there? It may be homicide or murder,” Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez said.

Balangan and Bendaña were reportedly intoxicated while passing by a wake, which led to an altercation with some of the attendees, including policemen.

After leaving and calling for backup, a shootout ensued, leaving Staff Sergeants Ryan Cris Cabaña and Jayson Fernandez, and Corrections Officer 1 Jerson Talon dead.

Paraffin tests showed Cabaña and Talon fired their guns, while Fernandez tested negative. Ballistic results on all recovered firearms are still pending.

“All of them were carrying issued 9mm firearms—Taurus, Glock, and EV type. The EV type is the weapon that discharged,” said Brig. Gen. Jovencio Badua Jr., PRO-Mimaropa director.

According to another version, the policemen responded to a dispute at a wake while intoxicated and without authorization from their superiors. At the wake, they questioned those involved, resulting in a brief exchange of gunfire. /cb