A man is now confined at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) after being shot by police officers. The incident occurred following a violent confrontation that began outside and escalated inside the Dumanjug Police Station on Tuesday night, December 16, 2025.
Chaos Erupts at the Police Station
The suspect, identified only by the alias "Lingling," is an elderly resident of Barangay Pawa in Dumanjug. The night's events started when the local Emergency Response Team (ERT) sought police assistance around 10:01 PM. They reported that the suspect was causing trouble in their area, armed with a knife, and threatening habal-habal drivers.
While the desk officer was interviewing the ERT personnel, the suspect suddenly entered the police station premises, still brandishing the knife. Patrolman Benvinido Lañojan attempted to calm him down and talk to him. However, the suspect launched a sudden attack, trying to stab the officer. Fortunately, Patrolman Lañojan was not hit.
Hot Pursuit and Violent Resistance
After the attempted stabbing, the suspect fled towards the southern part of the town, prompting an immediate hot pursuit operation. Police caught up with him in Barangay Sima, approximately 500 meters from the station.
Instead of surrendering, the suspect resisted violently. He threw a large stone at Police Staff Sergeant Feliciano Paller Jr., hitting him squarely on the forehead. Not content with this, the suspect then tried to grab PSSg Paller's service firearm and even pointed it towards the other pursuing officers.
Officer Forced to Neutralize the Threat
With the lives of the police officers in clear and immediate danger, Patrolman Rodel Monteza was forced to fire his weapon to neutralize the suspect. The shot hit the suspect, identified as Quirante, in his right thigh, causing him to fall and allowing officers to subdue him.
According to Police Major Mark Anthony Villanueva, chief of the Dumanjug Police Station, the suspect is notoriously known as a "maldito" (troublemaker) in their locality. He has a history of previous arrests due to causing disturbances. Locals who know him stated that he often becomes aggressive and violent whenever he consumes alcoholic beverages.
Aftermath and Pending Charges
The wounded suspect was rushed to VSMMC for treatment of the gunshot wound to his right thigh. Meanwhile, PSSg Paller Jr. was subjected to a CT scan to assess the head injury he sustained from the thrown stone.
The suspect is now facing a series of serious criminal charges. These include Direct Assault upon an Agent of a Person in Authority, Attempted Murder, and Resistance and Disobedience to a Person in Authority. The case underscores the dangers police officers can face even within the confines of their own station.
