Only 1 cop to face raps in alleged police rubout

Only one of the 12 police officers who arrested a billiard hall owner shot dead during an operation in Quezon City last Wednesday will be charged with homicide.

Senior Inspector Rodolfo Jaraza, chief of the Central Police District-Criminal Investigation Unit (CPD-CIU), said Friday that PO1 Yacub Zunco will be charged with homicide after the unit completes the investigation.

Jaraza explained that Zunco was the only operative of CPD Station 3 who admitted shooting Jeremias Pineda Jr., alias Armstrong, in Sitio Mendez, Baesa, Quezon City.

Pineda had been accused of frustrated homicide by Rolando Vila of the same place. He resisted arrest when confronted by CPD operatives.

Records show that Zunco shot Pineda when the latter, whose right hand, was already handcuffed, drew another handgun from the back of his waist using his left hand.

The victim sustained gunshot wounds in the left hand, left knee and right thigh. He was taken to the Quezon City General Hospital but died while undergoing treatment.

"PO1 Zunco will be charged with homicide because he’s the only one who admitted shooting Pineda when he was seen in the act of getting a gun from the back of his waist," Jaraza said.

Relatives of the victim, however, claimed that the arresting officers who shot Pineda were PO1 Gualberto Abu, PO2 Gerry Villamayor and PO1 Pablo Basmayor.

They said they have in their possession a videotape which would show what transpired during the arrest and who shot the victim.

Superintendent Isaac Farol, CPD station 3 commander, said earlier that the operation was conducted not only on the complaint of Vila.

According to Farol, residents of Sitio Mendez, Baesa, had also filed complaints against the victim for wanton display of firearms and indiscriminate firing in their barangay on several occasions.

Jaraza stressed that Farol and the 11 other arresting officers were not yet off the hook because they could still face summary dismissal proceedings and administrative charges.

He added that the court would determine the accountability of the police in the incident after the CPD-CIU completes its investigation.

CPD Chief Victor Luga ordered the CIU last Thursday to investigate the incident and establish whether the operation was legitimate.

He also ordered the unit to look into claims of the victim’s relatives that the police violated the rules of engagement.