NBI officer, trader shoot man after traffic row

An agent of the National Bureau of Investigation and his trader friend were apprehended for shooting and seriously wounding a man shortly after a traffic altercation in Paco, Manila Wednesday night.

Arrested were Augusto Eric Cipriano, 37, NBI special investigator III assigned to the office of Director Reynaldo Wycoco and Tato Ampatuan, 52, a resident of FD 38 street, Airmen Villamor Air Base, Pasay City. Cipriano and Ampatuan were blamed for wounding 26-year-old Judy Agustin during a shooting incident at the corner of San Marcelino and Escoda streets, Ermita, Manila at around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Agustin, of Muñoz street, Paco, Manila underwent operation at the Ospital ng Maynila due to a gunshot wound in the throat but has been declared out of danger, according to Senior Superintendent Ernesto Ibay, chief of the Western Police District-Special Operations Group.

Initial investigation showed that Agustin and his friend Salvador Flores were riding in tandem on board a Honda motorcycle (6068) when they were sideswiped by the suspects‘ vehicle a Toyota Corolla (UUH309), being driven by Cipriano. Flores told Ibay that the impact caused damage to Agustin’s helmet, which was hung on the rear end of the motorcycle. Cipriano and Ampatuan alighted from their car and confronted the victims, during which a heated argument ensued. At the height of the argument, Ampatuan pulled out his caliber .25 pistol and shot the victim in the throat. Fortunately, Ibay’s men, SPO3 Eugene Enrile, PO1 Darwin Laluz and PO1 Elmer Sibal, who were on their way to conduct a clearing operation against sidewalk vendors, witnessed the incident and arrested the suspects.

When frisked, police found an unlicensed Junior Colt .25 caliber pistol with serial number DF2004 with seven live ammunition and a spent shell from Ampatuan’s firearm.

Cipriano surrendered his Glock 9mm pistol with serial number DU-096, a magazine with 15 live ammunition and an expired permit to carry firearm issued in 1996 by then NBI Director Santiago Toledo.

Aside from frustrated homicide charges, Ibay said Ampatuan will be charged with illegal possession of firearms.

"If Cipriano fails to present proper documents for his gun, we will also file charges against him," added Ibay, who presented the suspects to Manila Mayor Lito Atienza.