Initao hero

By NITZ ARANCON with LITO RULONA, JOEY NACALABAN and SHIELA MAE BUTLIG, Correspondents

A POLICEMAN yesterday died protecting people in a school from a grenade lobbed by an amok in Initao town in Misamis Oriental.

Two people, Senior M/Sgt. Jason Magno included, died when the grenade, thrown by 65-year-old Ibrahim Basir of Tulay, Madamba Lanao del Sur, exploded at around 11:20 am at the covered court of the Initao Community College in Barangay Jampason, Initao town.

At least 17 people were wounded.
The 47-year-old Magno, who died at the Initao provincial hospital, was hailed as a hero for cushioning the impact of the grenade explosion. It went off in his hand.

Basir, the amok, was riddled with bullets by the police after the explosion.

Capitol spokesman Florito “Carlo” Dugaduga told the Gold Star Daily that Magno prevented the explosion from killing and hurting more people.
“There were many people all around,” said Dugaduga.

Dugaduga said Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vicente Emano also called Magno a hero.
“Giisip ni [Gov. Emano] nga hero ning usa ka Magno kung asa nag-ilog pa sila sa granada atong suspect ayha kini nibuto,” he said.

The Initao town government posted this message on its Facebook wall: “Our condolences to the family of Sir Jason Magno. We lost a hero today. May his soul rest in peace.”

The town government also announced the cancellation of a town festival due to the tragedy.
A viral video first shared on Facebook by one Windy Lobendina, however, shows Magno, the intelligence unit chief of the Initao police, running towards the grenade lobbed by Basir while the suspect was being disarmed by another policeman.

In another video that went viral on social media, Magno is seen on the ground, struggling for life with his eyes wide open after his limbs were blown off — he lost a hand and his right leg was nearly severed. Police officers and a civilian helped carry Magno to a vehicle that rushed him to a hospital.

Another police officer, Sgt. Alice Balido, was hurt in the grenade explosion along with at least 16 others.

Authorities identified the others who were wounded as Jasper Absider, Julie Takbobo, Lino Jalagot, Allan Bahian, Jayara Nery; Nestor Oblimar, Rey Sonny Galarosa, Nermero Poblete, Jomar Maglangit, Akmad Mangundadatu; Jundy Bagares, Tito Bagares, Ann Paulin Panoril, Renheart Payosan, Akmad Pondato and Desel Bulaybulay.

The wounded, including Magno, were rushed to the Initao provincial hospital but those badly hurt, including Sgt. Balido, were subsequently transferred to a Cagayan de Oro hospital.

Magno died in the hospital while Sgt. Balido was moved to the Polymedic Plaza here.

Lyndon Dapanas, Initao town’s disaster risk reduction, and management officer, said Basir, who was running amok, went inside the campus with a 12-inch steel hand tool with small sharp teeth, and a concealed grenade.

Col. Roy Robert Bahian, police director for Misamis Oriental, said Basir had come from the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) in Initao where a truck loaded with lumber was impounded.

The Cenro office is located near the school.

Initial investigation showed that Basir ran amok after the local environment office refused to release Basir’s truck and the forest products.

The suspect was there to attend a hearing called by the local environment office. He reportedly flared up during the deliberation, went out and returned with weapons.

Authorities said Basir took out his weapons and started threatening Cenro officials employees. When Sgts. Magno and Balido and other officers responded, the amok rushed towards the campus.

Bahian said police found the grenade’s pin inside the town’s environment office. “Meaning, gidala-dala na diay niya ang granada nga wala na’y pin.”

He said Basir ran towards Room 301 of the school in search for a student to attack. Sensing danger, the students shut the classroom’s door and locked it from the inside.

A Criminology and martial arts instructor, identified as Nestor Oblimar, responded and disarmed Basir.

The grenade went off shortly after Oblimar floored Basir, the viral video shows. It also shows Magno leaving Basir to Oblimar who opted to run towards the grenade lobbed by Basir.

After the explosion, a police officer was seen in the video firing shots at Basir Lt. Roger Ragmac of the Scene of the Crime Operatives said investigators found Basir’s “limbas,” the grenade pin, and 9mm shells.

Col. Bahian hailed Magno as a hero. “Iya gyud mga gibuhis iyang kinabuhi sa pagserbisyo,” Bahian said.

Lt. Ruel Literatus, deputy chief of the Initao police, said Magno became a human shield to prevent other people from getting killed.

“Daghan siya og mga accomplishment, wala mantsa ang iyang panerbisyo,” said Chief M/Sgt. Alexander Ramirez of Magno.

Magno’s chief, Capt. Arlyn Ranario, described the dead officer: ”Buotan kaayo na nga pulis.”

Ranario and Magno were classmates.

Senior M/Sgt. Antonio Jalagat, Magno’s childhood friend, said Magno had always been gung ho in responding to dangerous situations.

Jalagat said, “Kani gyud siya (Magno) motrabaho gyud ni serbisyo publiko. Gani, daghan na nahitabo sa iyang pag-responde na successful.”

He said when they worked as partners in Initao, they hardly stayed put in their police station because Magno always goaded him to patrol the town.

“Sa katong kuyog pa mi duty sa Initao, dili gyud mi malangan standby sa station kay makig-roving gyud ni siya buntag ug gabii. Dili pud siya gapanakit og tao. Maloluy-on ni siya,” Jalagat recalled.

Even a police official from Bukidnon took notice and lauded Magno for his heroic deed. Valencia City police director Col. Surki Serenas praised Magno for what he described as a “selfless sacrifice.

“Our salute to the bravery and heroism of Police Senior M/Sgt. Jason Magno of Initao MPS, Misamis Oriental PPO who offered his life as an ultimate sacrifice to save many. You are a (modern-day) hero, sergeant,” Serenas posted on his Facebook wall.

Dugaduga, capitol’s spokesman, said Gov. Emano became angry when he learned about what happened in Initao.

“Wa siya nalipay niini samot na kay daghan ang kabataan nga na-angol sa maong pagbusikad,” Dugaduga said.

He said Emano directed Bahian to investigate deeper, find out where the suspect was from, and do a profile.

Bahian said police found many documents in Basir’s bag and would investigate further, but he added that what happened was an isolated case.

Dugaduga said the capitol was assessing the situation and would provide assistance to the victims and their families.