Inmate stabs cop dead inside station

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—A police officer was stabbed dead inside a substation in Barangay Bulua here on Monday allegedly by a man earlier arrested on charges of minor physical injury, police said Tuesday.

The attack prompted a city councilor to suggest a review of the design of police stations and substations here.

SPO2 Rommel Villano, Bulua substation investigator, said PO3 Marvin Nallano had escorted Eduardo Ayento to the toilet and was bringing back the prisoner to his cell when he was attacked.

Investigators said Ayento was irked after Nallano kicked him for no apparent reason.

Asked how the prisoner got hold of a knife, Villano said the toilet and the substation’s kitchen—where knives are kept—were practically in the same room.

Senior Insp. Celso Montil, Bulua station chief, said Nallano might have committed breach of protocol in prisoner handling.

He said the police officer should have kept a safe distance from Ayento.

Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya, chair of the city council’s committee on police, fire and public safety, said the case should prompt a review of the design of police stations and substations. Bobby Lagsa, Inquirer Mindanao