MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato (PNA) – The police and military are investigating the fatal shooting by a cop of a soldier in Pikit, North Cotabato on Thursday, Sept. 29.
Major Maxim Peralta, Pikit police chief, said Friday, Sept. 30, that Senior Master Sgt. Chris Paul Aninon Baldo shot dead Corporal Roy Degamo of the Army 6th Infantry Division following a mix-up.
“The policeman, Sgt. Baldo, assigned with the Midsayap police force, voluntarily surrendered to the Pikit police office with his firearm,” Peralta said.
An initial investigation showed that Baldo’s mother informed him that a suspicious man was seen sitting in front of the family-owned variety store in Barangay Poblacion around 6:30 p.m.
“The mother asked the man what he was doing there when the store was already closed,” Peralta said. “The mother was frightened when the man did not respond, but instead showed his pistol.”
The mother informed his son about the man.
Baldo allegedly tried to talk to Degamo, 32, but the soldier pulled his gun, prompting the off-duty police officer to open fire.
Peralta said Baldo has been off-duty for days following a recent kidney transplant.
Witnesses believed Degamo was to be under the influence of liquor, Peralta said.
Police crime scene investigators found the soldier’s .45 caliber pistol.
Since January this year, Pikit has been rocked by a series of shootings, with more than 20 fatalities blamed by police on clan wars or “rido.”