DAVAO CITY–The suspect in the rape and killing of a 16-year-old junior high school student was gunned down by a police officer at the Talomo Police station here Thursday morning, after he allegedly tried to grab the service pistol of a lady cop.
Talomo Police commander, Chief Insp. Ronald Lao, said suspect James Narte was being escorted by two lady cops from the detention cell to the Traffic Division Office at about 7 a.m. so he could be booked for his second rape case.
Narte was the suspect in the rape of the teenage girl in Libby Road, Bago Gallera last week. Her body was found wrapped in a blue cellophane used for bananas at the back of an abandoned house. She had bruises on her head and body, indicating that she was hit by a hard object.
Lao said that when a part of Narte’s handcuff was removed so his fingerprint could be taken, the suspect moved to take down one of the policewomen and attempted to snatch her gun, creating a commotion inside the police station.
“During the commotion, the pistol fired, hitting the ceiling and another three shots were fired, hitting the wall beside the door,” Lao said.
“One of the lady police officers who escorted Narte was pregnant,” he added.
It was Narte’s second rape case after his other alleged victim in Barangay Pampanga appeared at the police station and pointed to him as the one who raped and robbed her in a grassy area. She said the rape happened in May.
A third victim also identified him but has not yet decided to file a case, police said.
After the series of gunfires, SPO3 Danilo Daquigan responded and shot Narte when he saw the lady cops were in danger.
Narte was rushed to the nearby Davao Adventist Hospital but was declared dead on arrival by the attending doctor.
His mother, Juliana, said she found it difficult to believe that her son would try to attack a cop, accusing the police of planning to kill him all along.
In an interview at the hospital, the mother alleged that during her visit the other day, she noticed a police officer attempting to take his son out of the detention facility to be brought to the back of the police station.
However, she said the cops did not continue to take her son out of the cell after she asked the officers what they were going to do with him.
Lao denied the allegation, saying there was no reason to take Narte out of his cell as the latter was already detained.
On the other hand, the victim’s father said justice has been served for her daughter.
“Nalipay ko kay natagaan na og hustisya (I am glad because justice has been served),” he said in an interview.
Meanwhile, the pregnant police officer, PO1 Nierica Ambong, was rushed to the Brokenshire Hospital at noon time after experiencing abdominal pains, believed to be the result of Narte’s attempt to wrest her gun from her.
Ambong was placed under observation at the hospital’s delivery room after she experienced palpitation and contraction. (Lilian Mellejor and Armando Fenequito, Jr./PNA)
