Police escort kills murder suspect in Tondo

An alleged drug dependent, who had just been arrested for stabbing a woman 47 times, was shot dead by his police escort after he grabbed the gun of another officer in Tondo, Manila last Wednesday night.

Police said the suspect Ricky Mangalindan, 22, of 75 Roxas street, Magsaysay Village, Tondo, died from a lone gunshot wound in the head. He was earlier arrested for killing Aida Saez, 30, after the latter refused to give him additional cash for a VCD player he pawned her last Sept. 27.

Western Police District (WPD) director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong has placed under investigation PO3 Fernando Balais, 43 and PO3 Juancho Cortes, 40, both assigned at the Smokey Mountain Police Community Precinct.

Balais said he was forced to shoot Mangalindan after the suspect grabbed Cortes’ gun in an attempt to escape. Cortes was in the front seat of the police van (DTI-636), which they used in bringing Mangalindan to the Tondo General Hospital for a medical check-up.

According to SPO2 Edmundo Cabal of the WPD Homicide Section, the van was traveling on Velasquez street in Tondo at around 8:40 p.m. when the incident took place.

The handcuffed Mangalindan, who was sitting at the back of the van, suddenly pushed Cortes and grabbed the cop’s gun.

"Sensing that the life of his colleague was in imminent danger, Balais, who was driving, stopped the vehicle and shot the suspect," Cabal said.

Police said Mangalindan was positively identified by Saez’ six-year-old daughter as the man who carried out the attack at around 2 p.m. last Wednesday. Mangalindan allegedly needed money to buy shabu.

SPO4 Alfredo Salazar of the WPD-Homicide Section said Saez’s daughter told probers that Mangalindan attacked her mother despite her repeated pleadings to spare her life.

After stabbing Saez, Mangalindan ordered her three children to go upstairs and then fled.

He was nabbed after his friend, Danilo Mercado, sought the help of barangay and police officials.

Mercado said he was with Mangalindan when they went to the victim’s house to demand money from Saez. Mangalindan threatened Saez when she refused.

"Hindi ko akalain na totohanin niya nung pananakot," said Mercado, who claimed he left Mangalindan near Saez house to continue his work as pedicab driver. – With Nestor Etolle