Bolo-wielding vendor shot dead by lawman

MANILA, Philippines—A man who came to his friend’s defense was shot dead by a policeman after he tried to prevent the latter from arresting his friend by going after him with a bolo in Pasig City.

Bong Marcial, a coconut vendor, died around 2:10 a.m. Sunday at Pasig City General Hospital (PCGH) due to a gunshot wound in the abdomen. The policeman involved in the incident, PO3 Arnold Catolico, said he was forced to shoot the victim in self-defense.

Earlier, Marcial’s friend Ryan Vargas was arrested by Catolico after the former attacked with a bolo tricycle driver Anthony Nonato over a P200 debt.

Authorities said that around 8:50 p.m. Saturday,  Marcial and Vargas—both coconut vendors—were on their way home from a drinking spree when they met Nonato on Avocado Street in Napico, Barangay Manggahan.

SPO1 Jose Ronnie Geronimo said that a heated argument over Nonato’s debt to Vargas prompted the latter to attack Nonato with his bolo.

A concerned citizen called Catolico, then in civilian clothes, who went to the area and spotted Vargas holding his bloodstained bolo.

The policeman asked Vargas to drop the weapon which he did. But while Catolico was handcuffing Vargas who was lying on the ground, Marcial approached them, grabbed his friend’s bolo and went after the lawman.

The policeman said he was forced to fire his firearm to stop Marcial, hitting him in the abdomen. Catolico brought the suspect to PCGH where he died a few hours later. On the other hand, Nonato, the first victim, remained under observation at Rizal Medical Center for his injuries.

Meanwhile, Vargas is detained at the Pasig police station on a charge of frustrated murder.