Mentally-challenged man killed after ‘assaulting’ cop

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A man believed to be suffering from a mental illness was killed after allegedly assaulting a policeman evening of Dec. 14 in Banate, Iloilo.

Roderick Villanueva alias Poloy, 46, of Barangay Carmelo, Banate, Iloilo succumbed to two gunshot injuries – one on his collarbone and the other on his right arm.

Executive Master Sergeant Geronimo Gano, 49, a member of Banate Municipal Police Station from Jordan, Guimaras, suffered a stab injury on the lower back portion of his body after Villanueva allegedly attacked him.

Lieutenant General Enrique Robles, Banate police chief, said another man was injured after he was hit by a stray bullet.

Sandrew Tesoro, 33, of Barangay Belen, Banate, is scheduled to undergo surgery on his right leg.

According to reports, a concerned citizen informed the local police station of a man loitering at the Eslalanade area around 6:20 p.m. on Thursday.

The man, who turned out to be Villanueva, was armed with a bolo and kitchen knife.

Robles said policemen immediately responded to the scene. They asked Villanueva to go home, which he obliged initially.

Robles admitted that responding policemen did not disarm the suspect.

Villanueva walked in the other direction from where the cops’ parked their vehicle.

But shortly later, he turned around and came charging at responding policemen.

The suspect then stabbed Gano on his back.

Robles said Gano was left with no choice but to shoot the suspect.

Another policeman was also able to fire his gun.

One bullet apparently ricocheted and hit Tesoro.

Villanueva’s family claimed that the suspect was suffering from mental illness.

With the suspect already dead, Robles said the case is now considered closed.