Valenzuela cop chief slain by robbers

The deputy police chief of Valenzuela City was killed during a highway robbery along the North Luzon Expressway Wednesday night.

Superintendent Eugenio Casalme, 52, of Angeles City, Pampanga, a police officer for 28 years, sustained two bullet wounds, the fatal one in the back of the head. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Jose B. Lingad Hospital in Pampanga.

Casalme was reportedly on his way home to St. Jude Village in Angeles City after attending the victory party of reelected Valenzuela City Mayor Emmanuel "Bobit" Carlos.

He was on board an Alladin bus with plate number BVL 898, driven by Cornelio Gorospe, 30, of Orani, Bataan, when three of his fellow passengers announced the heist while the bus was traversing the North Luzon Expressway near the Valenzuela Exit at about 8 p.m.

While the suspects were divesting passengers of their cash and valuables, Casalme, in a type-B uniform, caught the attention of the robbers, who were armed with a handgun, a grenade and a knife.

One of the suspects, the one with the handgun, divested Casalme of his service firearm and his wallet then shot him once in the body, Inspector Teresita Soriano, chief of the Northern Police District Tactical Operation Center, said.

"Casalme’s badge could have angered the suspect," Soriano opined.

The wounded police official reportedly pretended to be dead, but upon reaching the San Simon Exit in Pampanga, one of the robbers came back to him and fired another shot at his nape.

"Dati rin akong pulis, at galit ako sa mga pulis dahil pinatay nila ang kapatid ko (I’m an ex-policeman, and I hate policemen because they killed my brother)," one of the bus passengers, Basilio Galivia, overheard the triggerman as saying. The suspects then alighted from the bus and escaped.

Interior and Local Government Jose Lina Jr. hailed Casalme as a "modern day hero."

As of 3 p.m. yesterday, the Valenzuela police, in coordination with Pampanga authorities, are still conducting follow-up investigation on the case.

Lina relayed his personal condolences to the bereaved family and said the DILG would promote Casalme posthumously. He also assured the officer’s family that they would receive many benefits, including educational scholarships for his dependents.–Pete Laude, Nikko Dizon, Perseus Echeminada and Jaime Laude