BANGA, Aklan – A police officer assigned with Provincial Explosives Ordnance and K9 Unit invoked self-defense in the shooting of a mentally-ill man in Banga, Aklan.
Police Staff Sergeant Ronald De Tomas said he was attacked by 38-year old Jerald Zonio at a roadside vulcanizing shop in Barangay Mambog on May 22 at around 8 a.m.
De Tomas, a 34-year-old resident of Barangay Linabuan Sur, was with his wife at the vulcanizing shop to have his private tricycle’s flat tire repaired.
According to Investigator Police Staff Sergeant Danilo Dalida, Zonio, who was acting erratically and refused to drop a steel pipe and bamboo he was holding, charged at De Tomas.
De Tomas fired his gun.
Zonio sustained a gunshot wound on the chest.
“Sa una, maganda ang pag-uusap ng biktima at ng pulis upang ayusin ang nasirang gulong. Hindi alam ng pulis na may problema sa pag-iisip ang biktima. Sa kalaunan, sa kanilang pag-uusap, nagalit pa ito sa pulis, at tinangkang hambalusin ng tubo, kawayan at gamit sa vulcanizing shop,” said Dalida.
Justin Zoio, son of Jerald Zonio, told investigators his father was suffering from nervous breakdown.
Responding emergency rescuers brought Zonio to the Aklan provincial hospital in Kalibo town. He was later transferred to the Saint Gabriel Medical Center.
Zonio’s family agreed to settle the matter with De Tomas but the policeman might face administrative charges with the Provincial Internal Affairs Service.
“Si De Tomas ay nasa kustodiya ng Banga police station. Naka-civilian ang pulis (at the time of the shooting), off-duty siya,” Dalida said.
Dalida also recalled on March 2017 Zonio was charged with malicious mischief and physical injury.
“Isang kotse ang kanyang hinarang doon din mismo sa kanilang lugar. May bitbit si Zonio na kawayan at hinambalos ang dumadaang kotse na sakay ang isang Philippine Army personnel,” he pointed out./PN
