Cop, cousin shot dead in Caloocan

A San Juan policeman and his cousin were shot dead by one of two brothers who were having a drinking spree in Caloocan City yesterday, the police said.

Superintendent Dionicio Borromeo, chief of the Station Investigation and Intelligence Division (SIID), identified the victim as PO2 Noestro Co, 28, single, of Phase 88, Project 5, Block 77, Lot 30, Bagong Silang, and a member of the San Juan police force.

The other fatality was Co’s cousin, Noel Llantino, 27 who succumbed to a gunshot wound in the back at the East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City.

Suspects Ruben Lopez, 28, and his older brother Eddie, 40, escaped after the shooting.

PO1 Joselito Bagting, officer-on-case, said the brothers Ruben and Eddie Lopez and Llantino were having a drinking session at about 12:45 a.m. in front of their house.

At the height of their merry making, an already drunk Ruben suddenly pulled out a gun and fired his 9 mm pistol in the air.

Co, who was passing by on his way home not far from the suspect’s house, reportedly accosted Ruben Lopez, for firing his gun.

As Co tried to accost Ruben, the man pointed the gun at him and pulled the trigger, hitting the victim several times in the body.

Llantino tried to help the policeman but Ruben turned and shot him in the back. Llantino died while being treated at the hospital. – Jerry Botial