Cop figures in resto-bar fracas

By: Jennifer P. Rendon

FOUR men allegedly ganged up on a police officer in a commotion at a restaurant-bar in Mandurriao, Iloilo on Aug. 7, 2019.

Police Patrolman Friday Jess Navigar, 28, of Poblacion B, Dueñas, Iloilo, was wounded after a group of customers beat him up at around 12:45 a.m. Wednesday.

Navigar, who is currently assigned at the PNP Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (RPHAU) in Camp Delgado, Iloilo City, said he ate dinner at Paho Resto-Bar in Paseo de Arcangeles, Barangay Bolilao when the incident happened.

Police Major Marlon Valencia, Mandurriao police chief, said the incident also injured one of the suspects after Navigar’s gun went off during the scuffle.

Pablo Sido Jr., 36, suffered a gunshot wound on the lower left portion of his waist.

Another suspect, Danilo Paderes, Jr., 42, is now detained while their two other companions fled after the incident.

Valencia said the incident happened when Navigar bumped into a woman on his way out of the comfort room.

The cop allegedly momentarily looked at the woman and went back to his table.

A CCTV footage showed that the woman went to the suspects’ table and talked to one of them.

Shortly later, a confrontation occurred between the four men and the victim.

A commotion then occurred before a loud bang was heard.

Bystanders then called Police Patrolmen Zaymon Diwata and Dominator Bautista Jr., who were on patrol duty in the area, for assistance.

When they arrived at the scene, they saw Navigar with injuries on his head. He asked for assistance in running after the men who allegedly took his firearm.

Diwata and Bautista later caught up with Paderes and Sido, who threw Navigar’s firearm on the ground.

They were immediately arrested while their companions fled.

Police later recovered a caliber .9mm pistol (serial number 04526) loaded with 22 ammunitions.

Paderes was detained while Sido, who was hit after Navigar’s gun went off, was brought to St. Paul’s Hospital for treatment and later transferred to Western Visayas Medical Center.