A retired member of the Philippine Navy (PN) was arrested Thursday afternoon in Barangay San Miguel for shooting a drunk man who he claimed had kicked his gate and was provoking him to a fight.
Arrested by the police was ex-navy member Arnold Calopez, 56, for the murder of Romeo Pagayuna, alias “Boboy”.
A report obtained by Palawan News from Police Regional Office (PRO) MIMAROPA spokesperson P/Col. Socrates Faltado said the incident happened on August 15 at 4:45 p.m. outside the suspect’s house in the interior of Baltan Street, Purok Baltan in San Miguel.
Based on the initial investigation by scene of crime operatives (SOCO) of the Puerto Princesa City Police Office (PPCPO) Station 1, Pagayuna was drunk and made a commotion outside the house of Calopez by kicking his gate.
In an interview with local radio Bandera, Calopez said he shot Pagayuna several times in self-defense because it was only him and his wife inside their house.
Calopez said Pagayuna had a habit of parking his motorcycle in front of his house whenever he visits his neighbor whom he only identified as “Raul”.
On the morning of the incident, he said Pagayuna parked again outside his gate.
“Tuwing pupunta ‘yan kay Raul, doon nagpa-park sa harap ng gate ko. Pinapabayaan ko lang siya noon, pero noong umaga hindi na ako nakatiis, sinita ko. Ang sabi ko, ‘bakit ka nagpa-park sa may gate ko, samantalang ang punta mo kay Raul?’ Ang sabi niya, ‘sorry po, sorry po’. ‘Yon lang ang sabi niya. Ang sabi ko sa kanya, ‘baka mapagkamalan ka pang bisita ko nyan. Ano bang itinatago mo na tuwing pupunta ka kay Raul dito ka nagpa-park sa harap ko?’ he said.
Pagayuna was allegedly a drug suspect who had already been arrested in the past for violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
He said Pagayuna and his neighbor had been drinking most of the day and when he appeared drunk kicking his gate and provoking him to a fight, he was unable to control himself and shot him.
Calopez added that Pagayuna was also carrying a bag and he was afraid it had a gun.
“Noong hapon na nanonood ako ng tv, wala naman akong ginagawa syempre retired na, bigla na lang — maghapon sila ‘yan dyan sa bahay ni Raul pabalik-balik — kita naman sa CCTV ko, sinipa ‘yong gate at tapos naghamon. Dalawa lang kami ng misis ko doon ay may bag siya, pag ganyan niya sa bag, inunahan ko. Bakit ka manghahamon sa gate ng may bahay, ibig sabihin papatay ka ng tao?” he said.
Calopez said he spent all the bullets in his magazine on Pagayuna and left him outside.
Pagayuna was rushed to the hospital after concerned neighbors called for rescue personnel, but he was declared dead on arrival.
Calopez was placed under the custody of PPCPO Station 1.
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