An alarming gun-grabbing incident involving a foreign national in a busy General Santos City neighborhood on Tuesday noon left three people wounded, including a police officer, raising concerns about public safety. The incident occurred at the junction of the National Highway and Makar Road in Purok Malipayon, Barangay Labangal, after a verbal altercation between Dutch national Christopher Sebastian Schepers, 26, and local sikad (pedicab) driver Raul Cabahug Kidat, 49. Maj. Miguel Angelo Quidilla, chief of the Makar Police Station, stated that Patrolman Glenn Jeremy Collado, who had initially assisted Schepers in catching a ride to the airport, was involved in the altercation. During the struggle, Schepers attempted to grab Collado’s sidearm, which discharged and wounded both Kidat and Collado. Despite his injuries, Collado regained control of the firearm and shot Schepers to subdue him. PS2-GSCPO personnel promptly arrested Schepers at the scene, and charges of frustrated murder and frustrated homicide are being prepared against him. Locals expressed fears over the incident, emphasizing the need for increased police presence in public areas. Police assured the public of their readiness to respond and urged residents to report incidents immediately via 911.
