Cop shot in Precinct 6 gunfight

A drunken policeman was shot and seriously wounded by a fellow policeman whom he challenged to a gunfight in a police precinct in Pasig City at dawn yesterday.

SPO3 Henry Sadiua, 50, detailed at the Police Community Precinct 6 (PCP6) of the Pasig City police and a resident of Block 13 Lot 2, Phase II, Bliss, Balintawak, Quezon City sustained seven gunshot wounds in the body. He is now fighting for his life at the Rizal Medical Center (RMC).

The other cop, PO1 Federico Cruz, 28, assigned at the mobile division, surrendered to his superiors after he and a colleague SPO3 Benedicto Brazil rushed Sadiua to the hospital.

Reports said Sadiua was a stay-in at the precinct. He visits his family on a weekly basis, apparently to save fare money. However, Sadiua developed the habit of drinking.

Investigators said when drunk, Sadiua would challenge everybody, including his fellow policemen, to a gunfight.

Cruz was reporting for work as driver of the precinct’s patrol car at about 3:10 a.m. yesterday when the drunken Sadiua challenged him to a gunfight, police said. A heated argument ensued between Sadiua and Cruz but Brazil and other cooler heads were fast enough to pacify them.

Superintendent John Sosito, Pasig City police chief, said Sadiua entered the police precinct while Cruz walked towards the waiting police car. However, Cruz hurriedly went back to the precinct to get his Pershing cap which he forgot in their office.

At this juncture, Sosito said, Sadiua went out of his room and saw Cruz walking towards him. Apparently thinking that Cruz was out to confront him, Sadiua reached for his 9mm pistol and opened fire. Cruz fired back at Sadiua, hitting him seven times.

Cruz and Brazil, the precinct’s night shift supervisor, rushed the fallen Sadiua to the hospital.

Because of the incident, Sosito, who was celebrating his 41st birthday yesterday, conducted a surprise inspection of the city’s nine police precincts. Cruz was formerly detailed in Mindanao. He was later transferred to Pateros where he also shot a fellow policeman.– Non Alquitran