No bail recommended for ‘misencounter’ cops

No bail has been recommended for four Camp Crame-based policemen who shot and seriously wounded a Central Police District (CPD) officer during a "misencounter" in Quezon City last Tuesday.

Quezon City Assistant Prosecutor Florante Ramolete made the recommendation as he endorsed the filing of murder charges against SPO3 Ronnie Trinidad, SPO3 Tomas Tibor, SPO1 Manolito Tanacio and PO1 Fernando Bundang, whose actions also led to the death of a robbery suspect.

All four are assigned to the Philippine National Police Security and Protection Office based at Camp Crame.

Another colleague, PO3 Gil Flores remains at large. They have also been charged with direct assault with frustrated murder, direct assault with attempted murder, robbery, and violation of PD 1329, or obstruction of justice.

Bundang was also charged for failing to produce a license for his caliber .45 handgun which was confiscated after the incident.

PO2 Basilio Buce, of the CPD’s theft and robbery section, was shot in the nape during the misencounter.

Reports revealed that the incident took place at about 5:50 p.m. on Bansalangin street, near Veteran’s Village in Project 7. Buce and his team were just about to arrest suspected snatcher, Polinaro Pana, when the PNP group led by Trinidad appeared at the scene.

A commotion transpired between the CPD cops and the suspected snatcher, prompting the PNP cops, reportedly assigned as VIP security to the owner of one of the buildings in the area, to approach the first group.

The PNP group fired at Buce and his colleagues despite identifying themselves as Quezon City policemen. Buce was hit on the neck while Pana was shot in the chest.

Initial reports had indicated that a shooutout ensued after the PNP group had demanded a share of the credit for the arrest. However, sources said the "paranoid" PNP cops fired their weapons when they mistook the CPD cops for a kidnap gang that was targeting the businessman they were protecting.

The businessman had previously survived a kidnap try, police sources said.

During the shootout, Buce’s colleagues radioed for help and authorities immediately arrived at the scene to arrest the three suspects.

Responding policemen recovered the victim’s service firearm from Trinidad while his wallet was recovered from Tibor.