BuCor seeks NBI probe on deaths of corrections officer, 2 policemen in Palawan shootout
The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe a shootout in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan where a corrections officer and two policemen died.
BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. also directed BuCor’s Ferdinand V. Balduman, director for intelligence and investigation division, to conduct a parallel investigation.
Citing reports, Catapang said the incident that happened in Barangay Irawan last Friday night, April 3, resulted in the deaths of Correction Officer 1 (CO1) Jerson O. Talon, Police Staff Sergeant Ryan Cris Cabaña, and Police Staff Sergeant Jayson Fernandez.
Catapang said that based on reports “the fatal incident reportedly began amid a disturbance at a wake near CO1 Talon’s residence, which involved intoxicated police officers and civilians, and the tensions escalated into a confrontation.”
Also citing the account of Talon’s wife Imelda, BuCor said that “they were inside their residence when CO1 Talon heard a gunshot.”
Concerned for his daughter's safety at the wake, the bureau said “CO1 Talon went outside to secure her.”
The BuCor said that while Talon was about to close their gate and return inside the house, “three men in civilian attire approached him, introduced themselves as police officers, and inquired about the earlier commotion.”
It also said that according to Imelda, Talon introduced himself as a BuCor corrections officer but “the said individuals allegedly persisted and forcibly entered their residence dragging her husband who instructed her to secure their children.”
“She added that when she and her children took cover, they heard successive gunshots and later she saw two individuals -- later identified as Police Staff Sergeant Ryan Cris Cabaña and Police Staff Sergeant Jayson Fernandez assigned at the Puerto Princesa City Police Station 2 --lying on the ground, while CO1 Talon, who appeared helpless, was being dragged by another individual, identified as Police Officer Vendaña, towards their gate,” the BuCor said.
“While she and her children fled to a neighbor’s house for safety, she heard another gunshot prompting her to seek assistance from Bucor personnel who brought them to the NBI-Palawan for protection,” it added.