THREE anti-narcotics agents and their former colleague were arrested after allegedly beating at gunpoint three taxi drivers and for illegally discharging their firearms outside the Fatima Subdivision, Pagatpat, Cagayan de Oro City, on Friday, October 26.
Arrested were Ramil Coles, Randy Doliente and Jestoni Tubongbanua, all members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Northern Mindanao, and former PDEA agent Marvin Pabalate.
Investigation disclosed that the suspects hit two taxi drivers with their guns. One of the suspects also kicked another driver and gunshots were heard later.
Senior Inspector Breccia Ruth Townend, police station 7 commander, said suspects will undergo paraffin test.
"Dili pa ta kaingon kinsa ang nanion ug namunal sa armas kinsa ang nanipa ug kinsa ang nagpabuto (We couldn't identify who used the firearms for beating, who kicked and who discharged the firearms)," Townend said.
Townend also said there were signs that the suspects were under the influence of intoxicating liquor.
She explained that the incident stemmed after Coles had an argument with his wife. She said the wife wanted to leave and called for a taxi which angered the suspect.
Townend added that Coles, who at that time was with the other three suspects, turned his anger towards the taxi drivers and made a commotion at a taxi terminal outside the subdivision.
"Gi-flag down sa atong responding personnel ang duha ka sakyanan sakay ang mga suspects ug voluntary nga gisurrender sa mga suspect ang ilang armas ug nagpaila sila nga PDEA agents (The two vehicles were flagged down by our responding personnel which were used by the suspects and they voluntarily surrendered their firearms and introduced themselves as PDEA agents)," Townend said.
"Accordingly gisinggitan sa agent ang mga taxi drivers nga naa sila sa watch list busa gitubag siya sa mga drivers nga dili magpataka ug didto na nagsugod ang commotion (Accordingly, the agent shouted at the taxi drivers that they are in the watch list then the drivers answered the agent not to speculate them which started the commotion)," she added.
Suspects turned over their two long firearms and two caliber 45 pistol.
Investigators recovered two fired cartridge case and two live ammunition of alleged 45 caliber pistol during the ocular inspection.
Townend said around 10 taxi drivers filed a complaint at the police station while four decided to bring the case to the court.
Suspects were detained at the Maharlika detention facility and will likely face multiple grave threats, physical injury, and illegal discharge of firearms charges.
"Dili makig-settle ang complainants kay dili daw lalim kay what if daw naay naigo sa ila (The complainants will not settle because what if they got hit)," Townend said.
