Caught in the crossfire

Credit-grabbing over the arrest of a robbery suspect led to a shootout in Quezon City between police officers of the Central Police District (CPD) and Camp Crame-based agents of the Philippine National Police (PNP) last Tuesday.

The suspect was killed while one cop was seriously wounded.

Known only as "Mike," the suspect sustained bullet wounds in the body and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Quezon City General Hospital.

PO2 Basilio Buce, a CPD officer based at Camp Karingal, suffered a gunshot wound in the neck and is in critical condition at the Sioson General Hospital.

Three of the five policemen who shot Buce and "Mike" are now detained at the CPD headquarters awaiting proper charges. They were identified as SPO3 Ronnie Trinidad, SPO3 Tomas Trebor, and PO3 Fernando Undang.

Their companions, SPO1 Manolito Tanacio and PO3 Gil Flores, are still at large. All five suspects are assigned to the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame and are allegedly the security men of a certain businessman.

Police sources said the shootout occurred after the PNP group interfered with the arrest made by the CPD personnel. One source said it could all have been about grabbing credit for the apprehension of the suspect.

Initial reports showed that the incident took place at about 5:50 p.m. on Bansalangin street, near Veteran’s Village in Project 7. Buce and his colleagues were conducting a covert operation at the time.

The operation resulted in the arrest of Mike and another suspect. However, the PNP group led by Trinidad was nearby and approached the first group. Sources said that they also wanted credit for the arrest.

When the request for a share was refused, Trinidad and his boys allegedly opened fire on Buce and his men. Buce was hit in the neck while the man in custody was shot in the chest.

Buce’s colleagues radioed for help and authorities immediately arrived at the scene to arrest three of the suspects. The injured officers were rushed to the hospital, where Mike expired at about 6:40 p.m.

Chief Inspector Rodolfo Jaraza said follow-up investigations are now being conducted.