Cebu City cop pleads not guilty

THE Cebu City policeman accused of shooting dead a “pongko-pongko” vendor entered a plea of “not guilty” during his arraignment last Friday.

SPO2 Cresente Dacillo denied the allegations against him before Regional Trial Court Judge Sylvia Aquirre-Paderanga of Branch 16.

He was assisted by lawyer Salvador Solima.

The court set the preliminary conference on Aug. 24.

Dacillo is facing a homicide charge after he shot dead Primo Gallego in barangay Bulacao, Cebu City last March 19.

Dacillo posted P40,000 bail.

The policeman claimed he acted in self-defense when he shot Gallego in front of his sari-sari store where the victim was buying a can of sardines.

He said it was Gallego who drew a gun first, prompting him to open fire.

A witness, however, said that Gallego was unarmed and that the .38 revolver recovered near his body may have been planted.

Gallego’s live-in partner said that Dacillo suspected the victim of being attracted to his wife./REPORTER ADOR VINCENT S. MAYOL