Rookie cop fights off 4 robbers

Four holdup men proved no match to a brave rookie policeman who shot it out with them after robbing him early yesterday morning in Caloocan City.

Senior Superintendent Benjardi Mantele, Caloocan City police chief, said PO1 Benjamin del Rosario, 29, of the Cavite Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit residing in Camarin, Caloocan City, was himself wounded in the leg but seriously wounded and subsequently arrested one of the suspects.

Arrested was Eranio Benitez, 17, of Bagong Silang, Caloocan City, driver of the getaway tricycle which the suspects used in their escape.

PO1 Richard Ang disclosed that the policeman was on board a passenger jeepney at around 1:45 a.m. together with the three suspects when they suddenly announced the holdup upon reaching Barrio San Isidro, Tala.

Quoting police reports, Mantele said the suspects dragged the lawman towards a tricycle and started rummaging through his bag.

As the suspects started divesting him of his belongings, one of the suspects shot him in the left leg. At this juncture, Del Rosario pulled out his service firearm and fired at the robbers.

The unsuspecting suspects, including the one who shot the policeman with a caliber .38 revolver, immediately scampered toward their tricycle, taking with them his backpack containing his wallet and police badge, a mission order and other important documents.

Although wounded, Del Rosario was able to seek police assistance from a nearby police station through his cell phone. The police immediately conducted follow-up operation but no one was apprehended.

Del Rosario, while being treated at the Dr. Jose Rodriguez Hospital, recognized the also wounded Benitez, who had also gone to the same hospital by himself, for treatment of a gunshot wound in the body. – Jerry Botial