3 cops hailed for stopping shooting spree

Director Gen. Edgardo Aglipay, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, hailed Monday three policemen for stopping a police officer on a shooting spree during the last day of Ati-Atihan Festival in Kalibo, Aklan last Sunday.

Aglipay, who immediately flew to Kalibo upon learning of the incident, said Police Officers 1 John Cabayao, Randy Belmonte and Insp. Sullien Domingo prevented further bloodshed during the festival after gunning down Police Office 1 Jonathan Moreño.

Authorities continued to look into Sunday's shooting spree, which left seven people dead including Aklan police commander Senior Supt. Odelardo Magayanes and the Kalibo police head Chief Insp. Manuel Ilejay, Jr.

Moreño, who was detailed as close-in security of Magayanes, killed three other policemen and a 10-year-old girl before being gunned down. Thirty one people, including 10 policemen and two journalists, were injured in the incident.

Meanwhile, the Regional PNP Crime Laboratory has conducted a blood test on Moreño.

Chief Supt. George Aliño, regional police chief, said the blood tests will show if Moreño used drugs before shooting at two police chiefs and bystanders during the festivities.

He said Moreño earlier passed a police psychiatric test.

The municipal government of Kalibo has offered financial assistance to the families of the shooting victims.

In an emergency meeting with local officials Monday, Mayor Reymar Rebaldo announced that the municipal government would grant 40,000 pesos each to the families of Magayanes and Ilejay, 20,000 pesos each to the families of the three other policemen and 10,000 pesos to the family of the 10-year-old girl.