Malabor describes police conduct as overkill, overreaction    

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Isabela Mayor Joselito Malabor is demanding justice for his daughter, who was wounded after being struck by a stray bullet amid the clash between police and robbery suspects earlier this month in Barangay Sum-ag, Bacolod City.

Malabor described how the incident has impacted his 15-year old daughter to reporters over the weekend, noting, she was hit in left buttocks and the bullet was extracted after about three days.

The mayor said the bullet struck her pelvic bone, making it difficult for his daughter to walk; adding, she has not returned to school since the shootout and is currently undergoing therapy.

“The future of my daughter is affected,” Malabor stressed.

The mayor went on to describe police conduct as “overkill,” citing a video posted on social media reportedly showing police dragging his daughter.

“Police overreacted,” Malabor stated. “They fired their guns against the two suspected [robbers] who were armed only with a .38 caliber revolver.”

“Why did they opened fire when there were so many civilians around?” the mayor questioned.

He added, upon hearing the gunfire, Malabor said he was on his way to fetch his daughter as she was on her way home at the time.

The Isabela mayor noted his residence is located about 100 meters from Sum-ag National High School.

Malabor also claimed there were lapses in police operations with regards to rules of engagement.

“I will go to as far as the Department of Justice to attain justice for my daughter,” he affirmed.

Earlier this month, suspected robbers, identified as Agustin Criminal Gang members Armelle Espadon and Ryan Alib, burglarized a panel van in Barangay Taloc, Bago City.

Both Espadon and Alib were cornered by law enforcement in front of Sum-ag National High School, which led to the gun battle and their eventual demise.

The panel van driver, Ruben Cuelo, was later arrested after investigators discovered he worked with the suspects during the robbery, which he later admitted to.

Cuelo is presently detained at Bago City Police Station and faces robbery charges.

Meanwhile, the National Police Commission arrived in Bacolod City last week to conduct its own investigation into the incident, alongside the Regional Internal Affairs Service of Police Regional Office-6./DGB, WDJ