The Philippine National Police (PNP) Internal Affairs Service (IAS) has launched an investigation against a police officer involved in a shooting incident inside a bus that resulted in the death of a passenger and the injury of two responding officers at the border of Cotabato and Davao del Sur early Saturday.
Authorities identified the suspect as Police Cpl. Alfred Dawatan Sabas, assigned to Police Station 7 of the General Santos City Police Office.
IAS Inspector General Atty. Brigido Dulay said the suspect was allegedly intoxicated when the shooting happened inside a Mindanao Star bus around 2:30 a. m. in Barangay Batasan, Makilala, North Cotabato, according to a Camp Crame report.
Citing the accounts of witnesses, Dulay said Sabas shot and killed security guard Reynaldo Bigno Jr. after a heated argument.
He then coerced the driver to proceed with the trip despite the commotion.
At approximately 4:15 a. m., the bus reached a border checkpoint, where two officers, Police Cpl. Kent Maurith Pamaos and Pat. Russel Love Tapia of the 1104th Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB-Region 11) attempted to disarm Sabas.
However, the suspect opened fire, wounding both police officers, and fled. The injured officers were brought to the hospital for treatment.
Further, Sabas was apprehended at 5:00 a. m. in Barangay Kinuskusan, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur, during a hot pursuit by officers from the RMFB-Region 11.