A member of the San Andres police station landed in a hospital last week after he was hacked by a rape suspect he was arresting and then accidently shot in the leg by another policeman.

The suspect himself, Efren Robles Clavo, 52, is now recuperating at the Eastern Bicol Medical Center while handcuffed to his bed after he was likewise shot in the stomach during the incident in the early morning of Nov. 12.

San Andres PNP officer-in-charge Inspector Arthur Matos reported to Catanduanes PNP provincial director Senior Superintendent Eduardo Chavez that shortly before 1:50 A.M., PO2 Joey Superal, PO2 Isidro Ebo, PO1 Oscar Esquierda and PO1 Biboy Boholano proceeded to barangay Tibang armed with an arrest warrant issued by Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 42 Presiding Judge Genie Gapas-Agbada under Criminal Case No. 4229 for attempted rape filed against Clavo two years ago.

The Provincial Prosecution Office had accused the abaca stripper of trying to rape a 17-year old girl then  asleep with her siblings on the night of Feb. 14, 2010. The respondent allegedly covered the girl’s mouth, laid himself on top of her, mashed her breast and kissed her several times. When he removed her shorts, she struggled and shouted for help, awakening her brother who chased the man away. Bail for his temporary liberty was set at P120,000.00.

Since the warrant for his arrest was issued, Clavo had been eluding the law and when the police learned of his presence in Tibang, the team proceeded to the area after midnight. Clavo, however resisted arrest and hacked PO2 Ebo on the right shoulder with a 24-inch bolo.

The suspect also tried to hack PO1 Boholano, who was forced to shoot at Clavo’s foot with his Cal. 45 pistol but the shot missed. Clavo took a swing at PO2 Superal, who had no choice but to try to neutralize the suspect. Unfortunately, the first slug from his 9mm pistol hit the pavement and ricocheted into the right leg of PO2 Ebo.