• CHERYL G. CRUZ
A neophyte cop assigned at the 1st Mobile Force Company of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office, was arrested after he shot dead another policeman at about 5 o’clock this afternoon, May 31, in Bacolod City.
Bacolod City Police Office director, Colonel Noel Aliño, in a Viber message to reporters, identified the suspect as Patrolman Alvin Rios, 26, single, of Barangay Bugnay in Valderrama, Antique.
The victim, on the other hand, was P/SSg Jotham Arrem Tuto, 31, married, assigned at the BCPO Mobile Patrol Unit, and a resident of Crossing Agustin in Barangay Paraiso, Sagay City in Negros Occidental.
Aliño said the shooting incident happened “inside the bedroom of the house owned by the suspect and his live-in partner, together with their six-month-old son”, at Camella Subdivision, Barangay Tangub, Bacolod.
“The suspect shot the victim with the use of his issued service firearm twice, hitting the victim’s body, as witnessed by the suspect’s live-in-partner,” a police report said.
The victim was rushed to a hospital but was declared dead on arrival by an attending physician, Aliño said, adding that the suspect was immediately detained, and further investigation is ongoing.
Recovered at the crime scene were a caliber 9MM pistol, two fired cartridges, and four magazines with live ammunition. These were turned over to the evidence custodian for proper disposition, Aliño said. | CGC