2 die, cop hurt in QC shootout

Two alleged members of a crime gang were killed while a policeman was seriously injured during a shootout in Quezon City before dawn yesterday.

The fatalities were identified as Cerecio Cortez, 48, of Pablo Street, Damong Maliit, and Ferdinand Abragan, 26, of 149 J.R. Borja Street, both in Novaliches, Quezon City. They died on the spot from multiple gunshot wounds.

Senior Police Officer 1 Jacobo Miranda, of the Central Police District Mobile Patrol Unit, suffered gunshot wounds in the nape and buttocks. The policeman was rushed to the Chinese General Hospital for treatment and is now recuperating.

The incident happened at around 4:30 a.m. along the North Diversion Road in Quezon City, after Miranda and Senior Police Officer 1 Apollo Tamayo, who were manning mobile patrol car 133, checked the vehicle of the fatalities.

Senior Police Officer 1 Rodrigo Barrameda, officer-on-case, said that while Miranda and Tamayo were patrolling the North Diversion Road, the policemen noticed that the driver of a white Mitsubishi Lancer (TFV-269) behind them suddenly turned off his headlights upon seeing that the vehicle he was following was a police car.

Barrameda said the policemen became suspicious of the three men on board the vehicle, so they called for reinforcement from mobile car 138 manned by Senior Police Officer 4 Renato Condez and Police Officer 3 Laureta Leal.

Miranda then signaled the vehicle’s driver to stop for a check. The driver stopped on the side of the road.

According to Barrameda, Miranda found nothing amiss in the three men when he checked their vehicle. But when Miranda turned his back and was about to enter the police car, the suspects went inside their vehicle, pulled out firearms and shot Miranda.

Miranda pulled out his service firearm and fired back at the suspects. Tamayo, Miranda’s partner also traded shots with the suspects.

Mobile car 138 arrived and also engaged with the suspects.

Lifeless bodies of the suspects were seen lying on the pavement after the shootout. The still unidentified companion of the suspects, who was wounded, escaped in the direction of Caloocan City.

Recovered from the suspects were a caliber .45 pistol with three loaded magazines, a caliber .38 revolver and empty shells and cartridges of an Armalite rifle, caliber .45 pistol and .38 revolver.

Barrameda said the suspects could be involved in a robbery or drug syndicate.