Murder case set vs PNP officer for slay of waiter

BAGUIO CITY – Murder charges are set to be filed against a police officer who shot to death a stay-in waiter at a bread restaurant here night of Feb. 4.

The victim was identified as Bander Faisal Dacpano Davoc, 30, single, waiter of St. Martin’s Bread Restaurant here along Bokawkan Road and native of Pugo, La Union.

He was allegedly shot around 6:20 p.m. by police Insp. Gerome Sherwin BangibangGonsadan, 32, single, and resident of Camp 6, Tuba, Benguet.

Gonsadan was previously assigned to Special Action Force and was re-assigned to Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit at Camp Crame due to his ongoing Officer’s Basic Course at the Philippine Public Safety College at Camp Castañeda, Silang, Cavite.

According to police reports, at around 6:18 p.m. that night, the victim came personally to Police Station 2 near the area to ask for police assistance, claiming that there were four persons who refused to pay for food they ordered and consumed in the restaurant.

He said one of the men pushed him and brought out a gun while introducing himself as a police officer.

Upon receipt of the report, personnel of Station 2 led by deputy chief of police, Senior Insp. Dexter Ominga together with the victim went to the restaurants.

Upon arrival, the responding police officers were informed by the waiters and bystanders that suspects boarded a taxi headed towards Magsaysay Avenue flyover.

Immediately, responding police ran after the said taxi reportedly boarded by the suspect that was caught in a traffic jam at the corner of Magsaysay Avenue.

On the way, the cops ran to where a gunshot was heard and there they saw the victim lying down with blood oozing from his head.

Unknown to authorities, the suspect did not board the said taxi and instead, met and shot the victim.

Gonsadan was seen running away heading towards Aguila Street which prompted Ominga and his men to chase the suspect while he instructed the mobile car driver to rush the victim to nearby Pines Doctors Hospital.

The operatives arrested the suspect near the intersection of Aguila Street and Bokawkan Road and subsequently searched him and recovered from his possession a Cal. 9mm Glock pistol with Serial number SAF882 with magazine loaded with 11 bullets.

Gonsadan was brought to Police Station 2 for interrogation.

On the other hand, Davoc was declared dead on arrival by attending physician Dr. Gonzales due to gunshot wound on the head.

This, while Scene of the Crime Operatives led by Insp. Juvy Tomen proceeded to the crime scene and recovered an empty shell.

Gonsadan was subjected to paraffin test while the firearm recovered and the recovered empty shell was later subjected to ballistic examination.

An autopsy was also conducted to determine the cause of death of the victim.

Said suspect was later detained at Baguio City Jail on order of duty inquest prosecutor NenitaOpiana for a case of murder. – With a report from Maureen O. LLusla