By Francis Degay
BONTOC, Mountain Province – Murder charges were filed at the regional trial court here late last week against an army trooper for shooting dead a tribal leader’s son inside his vehicle following a traffic altercation evening of Dec. 13 at Fasog, Tocucan here.
Army staff sergeant Ricardo Abalos of the 77th infantry battalion of the 5th infantry division based at Sitio Parew, Tocucan, allegedly shot to death Abelardo “Abe” Fakat Jr., 54, a public works contractor and resident of Barangay Caluttit.
Based on police blotter, SPO2 Deliso Pakyo of the Bontoc police station received a call from an unidentified person following the shooting incident.
Reports reaching the regional police headquarters in Camp Dangwa, Benguet meanwhile said Abalos had an altercation with Fakat when the latter reportedly tried to overtake him.
Both were reportedly on their way to the town proper of Bontoc. Abalos was reportedly driving his motorcycle when Fakat who was then approaching from behind signified his intention of overtaking by honking his horn.
Abalos reportedly gave way but Fakat alighted from his car. A confrontation ensued wherein both brought out their guns and reportedly shot one another.
Five excessive gunshots were reportedly heard by the witness, who, according to a police report, had to take cover for fear he might be shot by stray bullets.
None was injured during the initial confrontation. After this, Abalos and his companion who also served as witness reportedly decided to go back to their detachment in Sitio Fusag, when Fakat followed them and allegedly intentionally bumped them from behind.
Abalos reportedly fell from his motorcycle while Fakat alighted from his vehicle and fired at him. Abalos reportedly shot back killing Fakat who sustained a gunshot wound on the left side of his body and injury on his head.
.Insp. Jimmy Macwes of the police regional mobile group, Bontoc police chief Chief Insp.Marcial Fa-ed and personnel of the provincial police command rushed to the crime scene and found Fakat dead.
Found on the scene were Fakat’s Cal. 45 pistol with one magazine loaded with seven bullets, five empty shells and one bullet also from a Cal. 45 pistol believed to be owned by Abalos.
Dr Diga Gomez, municipal health officer said Fakat was proclaimed dead on arrival at the Bontoc General Hospital and was buried Wednesday.
At 3 a.m., the next day Fa-ed led a police force to arrest Abalos at Tocucan. Through peaceful negotiation with 1st Lieutenant Jessie Addun, commanding officer of the Alpha Company, 77th Infantry Battalion, Abalos surrendered and turned over his service firearm.
Meanwhile, a witness identified as a certain Ulysis Sawad, 53, resident of Barangay Tocucan, told police he and Abalos, were proceeding towards Bontoc poblacion aboard a motorcycle when they heard the horn of the victim’s vehicle following behind them.
Sawad said Abalos then pulled over on the side of the road to give way but altercation ensued when the victim alighted from his sport runner Toyota revo with plate number PN 141 which resulted to the shooting.
Sawad told police a heated argument between the two prompted them to draw their guns and after the shoot out the witness said he saw the vehicle of the victim speeding off to Bontoc.
According to Sawad, Abalos called him to go back to the camp but the victim allegedly followed them and fired at them.
Sawad, a member of the Citizen’s Armed Forces Geographical Unit, was brought to the Bontoc General Hospital for treatment of a wound on Dec. 14.
In the evening, a daughter and a niece of Sawad who were taking care of him, were requested by a certain Army officer for them to go home and get extra clothing for the witness.
It was discovered the following day by SPO1Fred Awichen that the witness was absent from his room at the hospital.
While search was conducted by police, Tocucan tribesmen and the victim’s relatives to locate Sawad, mayor Franklin Odsey. Odsey was informed of the incident. Odsey called up provincial board member Ezra Gomez to inform his elder brother Gen. Rommel Gomez of the incident. The Gomezes are natives of Bontoc.
Gen Gomez assured Sawad would be brought back to Bontoc to face issues related to the shooting incident.
In an interview with Fa-ed, he said on Dec. 15, a certain Army Captain Dimasalang Mamayog, executive officer of the 77th IB of the 5th ID, informed Addun that Sawad was in Bagumbayan, Dupax del Sur, Nueva Viscaya.
Sawad was brought back to Bontoc through a military chopper the morning of Dec. 16.
Abelardo is the eldest son of Bontoc tribal leader Ama Alexander "Kawi" Fakat and Alice Aniwasal Fakat. – With a report from Gina Dizon
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