IRIGA CITY -– Never underestimate anyone. This is what a policeman learned after he had arrested a 21-year old robbery suspect at a crowded place here last Sunday afternoon without a buddy to back him up.

        Police record shows that at around 2:50 p.m., SPO1 Rey Guevara of PNP-Iriga was out to serve a warrant of arrest issued by MTCC Branch II Presiding Judge Salve Dimabayao against Joey Abante y Balid of San Francisco, this city, for robbery under Criminal Case No. 33980.

        Instead of giving himself up to the policeman peacefully, Abante reportedly resisted arrest by fleeing towards the direction of a busy street at the back of the city’s public market.

        The police officer who was armed with a 9 mm pistol chased the suspect and subsequently cornered him after firing a warning shot.

        As SPO1 Guevara was trying to handcuff Abante, the suspect reportedly went for the cop’s service firearm sending the policeman to panic and fire upon the suspect who sustained a bullet wound in the right hand.

        Another vendor, identified as Teresita Pante, 60, of Brgy. La Purisima, Polangui, Albay was hit by a stray bullet in the left shoulder while the two were grappling for the handgun.

        The wounded were rushed to the hospital for medical treatment while SPO1 Guevara immediately reported the incident to his superiors.

        “It was a big mistake on the part of the policeman in carrying out the arrest alone,” a witness or the incident was quoted as saying.

        Abante who was previously charged in court for similar offense will be brought to the city district jail as soon as his wound heals, according to police.