Summary dismissal vs cop who shot dead neighbor

Metro Manila police chief Director Edgar Aglipay ordered yesterday summary dismissal proceedings against a Mandaluyong City policeman who shot dead his neighbor on Christmas Day.

Aglipay’s reaction came after relatives of the victim, Faustino Cabaguing, 46, raised a howl of protest over the decision of city prosecutor Carlos Valenzuela releasing "for further investigation" yesterday the suspect, SPO1 Rolando Punzalan, 39.

Aglipay said he will not hesitate to dismiss from the service Punzalan, a bodyguard of Mandaluyong City chief prosecutor Pablito Gahol should "evidence gathered show him guilty as charged."

"There will be no whitewash in our effort to dismiss him from the service," said Aglipay, in an interview.

Punzalan, of the Mandaluyong City administration branch, was on preventive suspension due to two murder charges filed against him in Manila sometime last year. The case was lowered to homicide and Punzalan was able to post bail. Police said Punzalan should not be carrying any gun while under preventive suspension.

Mandaluyong City policemen and City Hall employees confirmed yesterday that Punzalan was Gahol’s security aide, Gahol could not be reached for comment.

Initial investigation showed that the victim and the suspect’s wives engaged in a petty quarrel along an alley in Block 40, Welfareville Subd., Barangay Addition Hills at 9:30 p.m. on Christmas Day. At the height of the argument, Punzalan allegedly pulled out an unknown caliber handgun and opened fire hitting Cabaguing in the chest. He died on the spot. The victim’s brother, Diego confronted Punzalan and asked him why he shot Cabaguin when he was only pacifying their quarreling wives. But to Diego’s surprise, he too, was arrested by responding policemen. Punzalan and Diego shared the same cell at the Mandaluyong City police detention center. "Kami na ang namatayan, kami pa ang hinaharrass," the victim’s relatives said of Diego’s arrest. Police failed to recover the murder weapon.– Non Alquitran