Senators detain alleged gunman in shooting incident in Dumaguete City

Members of the Senate sergeant-at-arms escort Police Staff Sgt. Noel Alabata out of the hearing in the Senate. Screengrab from Senate live

MANILA, Philippines — Senators on Wednesday cited in contempt a police officer who was tagged as the gunman during a shooting incident in Dumaguete City in 2021 due to inconsistencies in his testimony.

The officer, Police Staff Sgt. Noel Alabata, was identified by the business owners Jason Ong and Sandy Tinguha as the one who shot them in Dumaguete City in 2021, during the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs hearing regarding the killing of Gov. Roel Degamo.

Dumaguete Police chief Police Colonel Ramoncelio Sawan also identified Alabata as the arrested suspect in the incident.

According to the testimony from Ong and Tinguha, Alabata shot them while they were manning their small restaurant in Dumaguete City, fortunately missing Tinguha.

A scuffle then ensued between Ong and Alabata, where Alabata ended up being shot and beaten by the restaurant’s staff.

During his own testimony in the probe, however, Alabata denied ever shooting a gun, even claiming that the scar near his neck was caused by a knife and not a gunshot.

But the surgeon who treated his wound — and was also present in the hearing — correctly identified Alabata and recalled treating his wound.

It was also discovered that the officer’s real name was not used in medical records, and instead used a “Mr. X” pseudonym.

When questioned, Alabata then claimed several times that he does not remember multiple instances in the incident, claiming that it was because he was unconscious at that time, which annoyed most of the senators.

“Since PSSg. Alabata, refuses or doesn’t know how to answer my questions and I think he has selective memory. I am forced to cite this person in contempt and I move to cite him in contempt,” said Sen. Jinggoy Estrada during the hearing.

The Senate sergeant-at-arms then proceeded to detain Alabata, subsequently lifting the contempt order against PSSg. Renevic Rizaldo — who was cited in contempt on Tuesday — to give space for Alabata.

Mayor Siaton Fritz Diaz, in the same hearing, however, told committee chair Senator Ronald dela Rosa that Alabata may only be fearing for the safety of his family.

“Like any other police, baka takot din siya sa life ng family niya, si Alabata, baka takot siya para sa life ng family niya for some reason,” he said.

(Like any other police, maybe he is also afraid for the life of his family, Alabata, maybe he is afraid for the life of his family for some reason.)

On Tuesday, one of the owners, Ong, claimed that Alabata was taking orders from Police Colonel Crisaleo Tolentino who was a reported henchman of suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr..

To recall, Teves is being pointed at as the “mastermind” behind the assassination of Degamo and eight others in an attack now known known as the “Pamplona massacre.” Teves repeatedly denied the accusations.

RELATED STORIES:

Degamo widow wants PNP suspect public presentation rule changed

Where is Teves? Senate panel rejects lawmaker’s virtual presence in Degamo slay probe

Teves still mum about his whereabouts

JPV