By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
A police traffic investigator was shot dead during a scuffle at Jesusa Heights Subdivision in Bacolod City’s Barangay Estefania on Sunday night, November 14.
Police identified the fatality as 48-year-old Police Staff Sgt. Benjie Giron, assigned at the Bacolod City Police Office Police Station 6.
Police Station 4 commander, Police Major Richie Gohee, said Giron along with his wife were heading to the Palomero Hollow Blocks Factory in the said subdivision to buy gravel.
Giron then asked the suspect identified as 27-year-old Regie Buatag if the gravel they were buying was ready for pick-up.
Buatag, who was described to be inebriated at the time, was not able to identify Giron as a customer and a heated argument ensued.
Both Giron and Buatag threw several insults at each other until Buatag picked up a knife and tried to stab Giron.
Giron, meanwhile, was carrying his .9mm service pistol and decided to draw his firearm.
Both the suspect and victim then tried to wrestle for the firearm until Buatag shot Giron in the chest.
The cop was immediately rushed to the Metro Bacolod Hospital and Medical Center for treatment but he later succumbed to the gunshot wound on his chest.
Police later arrested Buatag in a follow-up operation. He is currently facing homicide charges./DGB, WDJ
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Iloilo City inoculates over 80% of target population
Iloilo City is nearing herd immunity against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Based on the data from the Department of Health Region 6 (DOH-6), as of November 14, Iloilo City has fully vaccinated 323,949 or 96.65 percent of the supposed target population of 335,172, while 364,609 or 108.78 percent received their first dose.
The data, however, according to Mayor Jerry. Treñas include around 55,000 individuals from Iloilo province who availed themselves of the jabs in mega-vaccination sites in the city.
“While we have included some from the province who are working here we really need to ramp up the vaccination so that we can say we are achieving herd immunity,” said Treñas.
Excluding those from Iloilo province, there were 268,949 city residents or 80.24 percent of the total target population of the city who completed their COVID-19 vaccination.
He also noted that the 5 to 11 years old are not yet vaccinated and the city has yet to start the booster shots for those fully vaccinated more than six months ago.
To note, the city has opened its COVID-19 vaccination for all, including residents of provinces in Panay Island. Treñas was also given authority by the city council to engage in vaccine-sharing to help the vaccination roll-out of other local government units.
Iloilo City is currently on low alert level status with decreasing number of COVID-19 cases, which the mayor attributes to the massive vaccination campaign.
Despite this, however, he still urges all Ilonggos to continue observing the minimum health protocols, especially as the holiday season approaches.
“Let us be circumspect when we go around and continue to follow the minimum health protocols so that we can have a very merry Christmas and a happier new year,” he said. (Glenda Tayona)/WDJ