Autopsy: Slugs came from killed cops’ guns

THERE were no other persons involved in the deaths of two policemen in Cebu City after an autopsy showed that the slugs extracted from their bodies came from the guns they fired.

A slug from a .38 revolver was extracted from the body of PO1 Anthony Gonzales while two slugs for a .45 pistol were taken from the body of PO1 Rey Gabutan, said Senior Supt. Nestor Satur of the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory.

The two policemen also tested positive for gunpowder burns as well as PO3 Arnel Palanas and PO2 Lejay Gumandal who were present when Gonzales and Gabutan shot each other in a drinking session Saturday night.

Satur said it was normal that traces of gunpowder were found in the hands of Palanas and Gumanay since the shooting happened in an enclosed place.

Two women testified that there was no foul play in the death and the two policemen shot each other.

Natalie Apostol and Victoria Sasing took a polygraph test at the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) office last Tuesday.  The shooting happened inside the house of Apostol.

Senior Supt. Mariano Natu-el Jr., chief of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), said the case will be considered closed once they receive the copy of the autopsy report.

Natu-el said since the start of the investigation, he was already convinced that there was no foul play in the incident.

“The question now is whether the relatives of the two policemen are entitled to receive benefits,” Natu-el told reporters.

The two policemen were off duty during the incident./CORRESPONDENT CHITO O. ARAGON