Responding cop kills armed man

A family driver was shot dead by a member of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) who tried to arrest him for running amok in barangay Pahina-Central, Cebu City.

Marvelon Villanueva, 37, allegedly drew a gun that prompted PO2 Michael Baylon to shoot him with an M-16 rifle.

Villanueva died on the spot with a gunshot wound in the back and chest.

Villanueva was the family driver of a certain Bundak in Taboan Market. He was a native of Quezon City.

Police said the man was drunk where he indiscriminately fired a .38 revolver in the barangay.

Baylon and PO2 Nemesio Paragsa responded to the trouble alarm.

The two policemen spotted Villanueva in Panganiban Street and tried to arrest him but the man drew a firearm.

Villanueva was already dead when paramedics from the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation arrived.

Police recovered the gun near the victim’s body.

Senior Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe, chief of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), said the incident was a legitimate police operation.

“Necessary ang pagputok ng baril. Wa na ma’y mahimo kundi pusilon siya (The use of the firearm by the responding policeman was necessary. There was no other option but to shoot him (Villanueva)),” Buenafe said.

Buenafe also defended the SWAT personnel for using high-powered guns when they responded to the alarm.

“Because who knows kung unsang armasa ang dala sa suspek, basin bazooka, or bomba, so you have to be equipped with a superior firearm,” he said.

The CCPO director said the police, particularly the SWAT, must have the resolve to respond to any incident even if it means risking their lives.

Two SWAT members were recently charged before the Commission on Human Rights for the violent arrest of a Papua New Guinea national in barangay Banilad, Cebu City.

PO2 Bradford Lavandero and PO1 James Philip Tanza were seen on a video footage mauling Benedict Penini whom they tried to arrest for causing trouble.

Supt. Audie Villacin, chief of the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Branch, said the investigation has yet to be finished since they are still waiting for the TV network to submit the whole footage of the incident.

The earlier footage showed a policeman hitting the foreigner with the rear end of an armalite.

Another policeman kicked Penini while he was sprawled on the ground.