Cop gets 17 years for killing colleague

A policeman assigned at the Southern Police District (SPD) was sentenced by the Pasig City regional trial court (RTC) last week to 17 years imprisonment for shooting to death his colleague during a fiesta celebration in Taguig in 1993.

Judge Jesus Bersamira, of the RTC Branch 166, also ordered Police Officer 1 Efren Dangdang, 47, of No. 425 K, Quezon Street, Purok 6, Lower Bicutan, Taguig to indemnify the family of the victim, Police 0fficer 2 Jeffrey Largo, in the sum of P1.1 million, plus court costs.

Dangdang entered a plea of not guilty during the arraignment, but the prosecution witnesses convinced Bersamira that the suspect treacherously shot Largo twice, causing his instantaneous death.

Court records showed that Largo and his companions from the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) attended the fiesta of Lower Bicutan, Taguig on Oct. 10, 1993.

However, Largo and his group found their classmate Police Officer 2 Lindon Dimaiwat already dead drunk at the house of a neighbor so they bodily carried him home and put him to sleep.

At this juncture, Dangdang arrived looking for Dimaiwat. A heated argument ensued between Dangdang and Largo until the former drew a caliber .45 automatic pistol and opened fire at close range.

Dr. Renato de la Cruz, head of the surgical department of the Camp Panopio Hospital, said Largo was hit twice in the chest. He died of massive blood infection.

In his defense, Dangdang said that Largo’s group arrested his visitor, a certain Bugoy, for an unknown reason.

While looking for Bugoy, Largo allegedly berated him for meddling and interfering in the case.

Largo drew his gun and he grabbed it and they grappled for possession. Two shots rang out and he did not know who between them squeezed the trigger.

The suspect claimed he escaped running in a zigzag manner while unidentified armed men fired shots in his direction.

Dangdang surrendered to now Metro Manila police chief Deputy Director General Romeo Peña who turned him over to the PNP Criminal Intelligence and Detection Group (CIDG).

In his eight-page decision, Judge Bersamira gave weight to the testimony of prosecution witness Vicky Gasgas Bolivar, who was a few feet away when Dangdang shot Largo while descending from a concrete stairway.

Dangdang’s defense, Judge Bersamira explained, failed to outweigh the "candid, unwavering and straightforward narration (of the incident) of Vicky Bolivar."

"If it were true that he is innocent of the charge against him, the Court could not help but wonder why he chose to act like a coward and in dereliction of official duty, instead of pursuing and effecting the arrest of the supposed gunman," said Bersamira.