Ailing ex-cop kills self

A former Western Police District (WPD) policeman afflicted with a lingering kidney ailment, decided to end his misery last Monday night by shooting himself aboard a pedicab in Tondo, Manila.

Western Police District homicide probers identified the victim as Julian Zapanta, 63, of 1146 Sto. Cristo St., Tondo. According to reports, Zapanta boarded the pedicab driven by Edilberto Navarosa at about 7 p.m. and asked to be brought to Morga street.

While on their way to Morga street, Navarosa told police he heard a gunshot from inside the pedicab. He then stopped and saw the victim slumped while holding a caliber .38 Smith and Wesson revolver.

He rushed the victim to the Mary Johnston Hospital, but was declared dead on arrival due to a gunshot wound in the right temple.

Homicide probers said the victim, after retirement from the Manila police force, worked as a contract worker in Saudi Arabia and was suffering from a kidney ailment.

Meanwhile, a 34-year-old man was shot dead after he went berserk and stabbed a neighbor and a policeman the other night in Valenzuela City.

Suspect Indalicio Corona, of 110 Phase 1, Sityo Kaingin, Valenzuela, suffered a gunshot wound in the chest. The victims, identified as Renato Guyad, 39 and P03 Elpidio de Guzman, 43, both neighbors of the suspect, are now receiving medical treatment at the Valenzuela District Hospital.

Police reports showed that the incident took place at about 7 p.m. inside Guyad’s residence in Sityo Kaingin. The suspect, who was recently abandoned by his wife, forced himself inside the house and attacked his victims after a verbal altercation. Although wounded, De Guzman managed to pull out his firearm and shoot Corana dead. – Mike Frialde and Matthew Estabillo