By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan | Philippine News Agency
A police officer was arrested after a shooting aboard a bus killed one passenger and injured 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.
Sabas 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.
Witnesses 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.
The suspect opened fire, wounding both officers, and fled.
Following a hot pursuit, Sabas was apprehended at 5:00 a.m. in Barangay Kinuskusan, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur, by officers from the RMFB-Region 11.
The injured officers were brought to the hospital for treatment.
