A security guard shot and injured a “quarantine violator” who tried to evade quarantine checkpoint in K-Mart, Barangay 22, Bacolod City Sunday morning, April 19.
Authorities identified the victim as Epraim Anhao, 27 years old, resident of Purok Angeles, Barangay Estefania of the said city.
According to Police Lieutenant Colonel Ariel Pico, spokesperson of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), the victim sustained gunshot wounds on his left shoulder and left lower back.
Police identified the suspect Leo Pagayonan, 34, security guard of JRY Security Agency, and is on-duty at K-Mart Store at about 9:15 a.m.
Pico said the Anhao was running in front of K-Mart Store towards east direction when Pagayonan shot him.
Respondents rushed the victim to Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) while the suspect voluntarily surrendered to Police Station 4.
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Guard shoots “quarantine violator” in Bacolod
According to the investigation, the victim was with three other persons who were seen roaming along Barangay 22 despite the strict enforcement of enhanced community quarantine. During the ECQ, all home quarantine pass (HQP) were not honored on Sundays.
When the policemen were about to approach them, the victim and the three others ran away. The barangay tanods and Barangay 22 Captain Diosdado Mayo chased them.
The victim tried to enter the K-Mart Store, but the security stopped him and shot him while the three others escaped.
Police Station 4 continues to investigate the victim’s background while Pagayonan is detained at the custodial facility of the station.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier gave a controversial warning to shoot unruly quarantine violators dead.
“My orders are sa pulis pati military, pati mga barangay, na pagka ginulo at nagkaroon ng okasyon na lumaban at ang buhay ninyo ay nalagay sa alanganin, shoot them dead! Tingnan natin. Patay. Eh kaysa manggulo kayo diyan, eh libing ko na kayo,” Duterte said in an impromptu TV address.
(My orders to the police, the military, and the barangays: If they become unruly and they fight you, and your lives are endangered, shoot them dead! Let’s see. Dead. Instead of causing chaos, I’ll just bury you.)
The PNP, however, clarified that they would not follow Duterte’s order and explained that the President is just “overemphasized on implementing the law in this time of crisis.”
Duterte again warned that he might be forced to enforce Martial Law-like measures if the number of quarantine violators would continue to increase.