Charges set vs Ifugao PNP officer for slay of 2 Bauko, Kibungan cops

Finger-wrestling row turns fatal 

BANAUE, Ifugao – Charges for murder are set to be filed against a police officer for allegedly shooting to death two fellow officers over a finger-wrestling match here inside the headquarters of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 15. Brigadier Gen. Israel Ephraim Dickson, regional director of the Police Regional Office in the Cordillera, identified the fatalities as Staff Sgt. Romualdo Ngina Jr., 32, married and a native of Otucan Sur, Bauko, Mountain

Province and Patrolman Rey Wan-aten, 30, native of Kibungan, Benguet.

Both were brought home to their hometowns.

The alleged gunman was identified as Cpl. Paul Congihan Badangayon, 28, married and a native of O-ong, Hingyon, Ifugao.

Initial investigation showed the victims and the suspect were engaged in “torsi” or finger-wrestling on Sept. 29 when alleged misinterpretations of the rules of the game led to injuries to the suspect’s fingers.

Congihan allegedly badmouthed the victims before he went back to his room, but Ngina followed and allegedly punched him.

At this juncture, the suspect reportedly drew his firearm and fired at Ngina several times, causing the latter to fall bloodied on the ground.

Wan-aten attempted to interfere, but he was also fired at by Congihan, sending him also bloodied to the pavement.

The victims were brought by their colleagues to the Bontoc General Hospital in nearby Bontoc, Mountain Province, where they died.

Banaue is a 2-km ride to Bontoc.

Doctors who had attended to Ngina and Wan-aten said the two policemen succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds.

The suspect was immediately disarmed by his superior and is now awaiting the filing of murder charges against him before the Ifugao Provincial Prosecutor’s Office and stands to be dismissed from the service for conduct unbecoming a police officer.