Responding cop shoots 15-yr-old boy involved in basketball court rumble
By Anthony Giron
CAMP GEN. PANTALEON GARCIA, IMUS, Cavite – A responding policeman shot dead late Saturday afternoon an out-of-school minor, who was involved in a rumble at Phase II, Bucal Park in Barangay Paliparan III, Dasmariñas City.
The Cavite Police Provincial Office (PPO), in a report released on Sunday, March 1, identified the fatality as Darwin Ruaya Pintang, 15, a resident of Phase III, Barangay Paliparan III.
Pintang was reportedly shot by Staff Sergeant Elmer Belaro, 37, of Police Regional Office (PRO)-IV-A Intelligence Division, when he resisted arrest and fired a "sumpak" (improvised shotgun).
The boy, who suffered a bullet in the chest, died on the spot.
Belaro responded as two armed groups of youths were clashing in the area. He saw the riot as he was at a basketball court with some friends, police reported.
The two warring groups scampered when a shot rang out in the area.
Responding barangay tanods (village watchmen) arrested a 14-year-old boy with a "sumpak" who was also involved in the rumble.
The Dasmariñas police are now investigating the incident.
Belaro reported the shooting to the police after the incident. He claimed that he responded to scene to help pacify the two fighting groups.
Police said that a homicide charge will be filed against Belaro in connection with the incident.