Bacolod City police director, Senior Supt. Pedro Merced, yesterday said Chief Insp. Jimmy Fortaleza was only defending himself when he shot dead a detainee who reportedly grabbed the service firearm of a police operative at the Intelligence and Investigation room of the Precinct 1 at about 9:20 a.m. Monday.

At the time, Fortaleza had no recourse but to shoot Romulo Taballo Sabino, 37, of Malipayon, Brgy. 35, who managed to grab the 9mm pistol of PO2 Alexis Disomangcop and repeatedly fired it, Merced said.

A precinct commander must take necessary action when the situation calls for it, especially if many lives are at stake, Merced said.

Merced said Sabino's record gives an impression that he was a "dangerous man" as he was responsible for killing his own father by choking him to death in 2002, had attempted to rape his sister and had stabbed his brother and brother-in-law, among others.

Police investigation also showed that Sabino, who was reportedly abused and maltreated by his father, possibly took revenge by killing him and attempting to kill some of his relatives, Merced said.

Sabino was arrested Sunday night by Police Precinct 1 operatives for allegedly stabbing the 9-moth-old sow of his neighbor, Nena Nicor Layasan, of Brgy. 35, police reports said.

Merced said he and Fortaleza provided cash assistance to the family of Sabino.*DMG

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