SAN JOSE, CAMARINES SUR — A police response to a report of a man allegedly running amok turned into a violent confrontation on Saturday, August 22, after a police officer was seriously injured by a bolo attack in Barangay Calalahan.
The 42-year-old officer, identified in a separate report as Police Staff Sergeant Noli Miraña, suffered the loss of his left hand and sustained injuries to his face while responding to the incident, according to reports from ABS-CBN News and Balita.
Authorities said police were called after a man was reportedly causing a disturbance while armed with a bolo. Miraña reportedly attempted to talk to and calm the man before the situation suddenly escalated.
The suspect allegedly attacked the officer with the bolo. Miraña fell during the confrontation, and the attacker reportedly struck him again, hitting his left hand with such force that it was severed.
Other responding police officers intervened to stop the assault. The suspect was shot in the thigh and subsequently brought to a hospital, while Miraña was also rushed for emergency medical treatment. Both were reported to be alive and receiving medical care.
Authorities continue investigating
Initial information cited by Balita indicated that authorities were looking into the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s behavior, including reports that he may have been experiencing a serious mental-health crisis. However, this remains an allegation or preliminary assessment and should not be treated as a confirmed medical diagnosis without official medical documentation.
The incident also raises questions about the risks police officers face when responding to volatile situations involving bladed weapons and individuals who may be experiencing a behavioral or mental-health crisis.
As of the latest available reports, authorities were still determining the full circumstances of the confrontation and the appropriate legal action against the suspect. Balita reported that information on whether formal charges had already been filed was not yet available at publication time.
For now, the investigation is expected to focus on what happened immediately before the attack, how the confrontation escalated, and the circumstances surrounding the police response.
The case is a stark reminder of how quickly a routine call involving a person allegedly running amok can turn into a life-changing emergency — this time leaving a police officer seriously injured while carrying out his duty.
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