ORMOC CITY- A gym instructor was killed by a police officer whom he challenged to a fist fight.
Baybay City police station chief Lt. Col. Alberto Renomeron said that Samuel Managbanag, 31, a gym instructor, sustained single gunshot wound in his chest and was already dead upon arrival at the city’s Western Leyte Provincial Hospital as declared by attending physician Dr. Russel Gerry Dejarme.
Renomeron said in an interview that in that Police Corporal Ronel Tapales, 32, was doing an intelligence work in that area of the city’s Barangay Sto. Niño, particularly in Zone 1, when he chanced upon a group of persons having a drinking spree beside on the street.
The police officer reminded the men that drinking of liquor in the public is prohibited under an existing ordinance of the city.
When told to stop their drinking binge, Managbanag, a man of huge body build and known to be expert in martial arts, challenged the cop for a fist fight.
Tapales ignored the suspect’s challenge but he was assaulted which prompted him to run.
While being chased, Tapales was cornered near a bamboo fence, and had no choice but to pull out his service firearm and fired the suspect once at a close range, Renomeron said.
Recovered at the scene was one piece fired bullet of caliber .9 mm pistol.
Tapales voluntarily deposited his service firearm, a .9 mm caliber gun and one magazine loaded with 11 live bullets.
(ELVIE ROMAN ROA with RONALD O.REYES)
