Cop, bystander die in Palawan shooting

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY— A police officer and a bystander died in a shooting incident at Sitio Marabahay, Barangay Rio Tuba in the Palawan town of Bataraza on Monday, the Bataraza Municipal Police Station said.

The law enforcer, assigned to the 2nd Special Operations Unit of the PNP Maritime Group, discharged his government-issued firearm inside the police premises before noon, before he began roaming the street at Marabahay.

Responding police officers tried to subdue the suspect, but he shot at them, prompting the responders to return fire.

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The suspect sustained gunshot wounds in the leg and torso and was brought to Rio Tuba Nickel Foundation, Inc. Hospital (RTNFI) for treatment. He was later transferred to the Bataraza Municipal Health Office for further medical attention, where he died.

A bystander was also shot multiple times. He died on the spot.

The responding police personnel later recovered the suspect’s weapon and an 11-inch blade.

The Bataraza police are conducting follow-up investigations to establish the full sequence of events, the number of shots fired, and other circumstances that led to the incident./coa