After one week of hiding, the policeman linked to a shooting incident in Brgy. Tangub, Bacolod City Sunday last week that caused the death of a man and injury of his cousin, finally surrendered in Iloilo province at about 11:45 a.m. yesterday.

Police Officer 3 Kenneth Cerbo of Calinog, Iloilo, who is assigned at the Bingawan town police said he surfaced to clear his name, his station commander, Senior Insp. Johnny Tumambing told the DAILY STAR.

Cerbo shot Greggy Alfonso, 23, of Purok San Roque on the chest and his cousin, Rodolfo Alfonso, 25, in the abdomen while they were buying ice at his store.

Greggy died at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, while Rodolfo, who was also confined at the same hospital, was released Saturday last week. Greggy was buried at the Brgy. Sum-ag public cemetery Sunday.

Cerbo claimed he only did it to defend himself as Rodolfo allegedly had an improvised firearm, an allegation that the victims’ family vehemently denied.

Tumambing said Cerbo was given until yesterday to surface or he will be declared absent without leave.

Under the new rule of the Philippine National Police, a policeman who fails to surface in five successive days, can be declared AWOL by his commander, he said.

Bacolod City Police Director Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz said Cerbo will remain under the custody of Tumambing until he receives a subpoena from the City Prosecutor’s Office asking him to answer the frustrated murder and murder complaints filed against him.

De la Paz said they could no longer arrest Cerbo because it can no longer be classified as being by virtue of a hot pursuit operation. He added that since criminal charges have already been filed against Cerbo, he can only be apprehended if an arrest warrant has been against him.

Marjorie Alfonso, mother of Greggy, said she is happy that Cerbo has surfaced so he can face the consequences of what he did to her son and nephew.

She said Cerbo should be removed from the service because, while he still has a gun, the chances are that he can hurt more people.*APN

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