The homicide charges filed against Chief Insp. Jimmy Fortaleza, Police Precinct 1 commander, who shot dead a detainee at the investigation room on Feb. 6 have been dismissed by the Bacolod City Prosecutor's Office.

Senior Supt. Pedro Merced, Bacolod City police director, yesterday said city prosecutor Dennis Jarder ordered the dismissal of the charges on Saturday after the family of Romulo Sabino, 37, of Brgy. 35 executed an affidavit of desistance showing their lack of interest in pursuing the case.

Merced said Fortaleza no longer has any criminal and civil liability for shooting of Sabino. No administrative charges were filed against him because the criminal charges did not prosper, Merced added. Fortaleza shot Sabino twice in his head when the latter reportedly grabbed the service firearm of PO2 Alexis Desmangcop, and caused the detainee's instantaneous death, police reports said.

Sabino had been arrested by Police Precinct 1 operatives for allegedly stabbing the nine-month-old sow of his neighbor Nena Nicor Layasan, police reports said. Sabino had also been accused of killing his father, hacking his brother, attempting to rape his sister, and some members of his family had also suffered from his beatings, police reports said.*DMG

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