Police officer killed in scuffle

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Police are preparing the filing of homicide charges against a man who killed a police officer following an altercation in Barangay Estefania here last Sunday.

The victim was identified as Police Staff Sergeant Benjie Giron, 48, of Barangay Granada here, a member of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) assigned as traffic investigator to Police Station 6.

Police Major Ritchie Gohee, head of Police Station 4, said Giron, who was off duty at that time, asked for some volcanic soil from his cousin who owns a shop.

Giron then went to the shop early that night, upon the instruction of his cousin, where he met the suspect identified as 27-year-old Regie Buatag of Talisay City, Negros Occidental, who was working at the shop.

Gohee said a heated argument ensued between them, But they did not know what really triggered the argument.

“Allegedly kuno nag balik si Giron sa salakyan tapos ang suspect nagkuha daw bladed weapon, pag-atubangay nila liwat, nag lalisay sila,” Gohee said.

Sensing danger, Giron allegedly drew his issued .9-mm caliber pistol in his defense. But they both grappled for the firearm, until it fired, with the bullet hitting Giron’s abdomen, Gohee said.

Gohee said Giron also suffered other injuries, but they could not tell yet if he was stabbed, pending the autopsy results.

Police recovered from the scene the knife and Giron’s pistol.

In an interview with Brigada News FM Bacolod, Buatag said Giron and his wife arrived at the shop and asked for soil.

But he alleged that when he told them that he will ask his boss first, Giron allegedly slapped him twice. That episode led to the scuffle.

“Wala ko kabalo nga police siya, gin-sabat ko man lang siya insakto, pero nagbunot siya kag gin-taya sa akon amo to nag-agaway kami duha,” Buatag said at the police station.

Buatag said he thought he was the one who got hit, even as he asked for forgiveness.

“Pagkabati ko lupok abi ko ako naigo pero siya na gali, indi man to hungod na amo to matabo, pasensya lang gid,” Buatag added.

Buatag, however, admitted that he was drunk during the incident.

Gohee said they are just waiting for some documents to process the filing of the criminal complaint against Buatag.

Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 said it is saddened by the untimely death of Giron, as it expressed their condolences and prayers to his family.

Police Brigadier General Flynn Dongbo, PRO-6 director, expressed heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for the service that Giron had rendered to the Philippine National Police and to the Bacolodnons.