WPD chief launches hunt for cop killer

The Western Police District (WPD) formed a crack team of officers to go after the killer of Police Officer 1 Michael Dennis Corpuz, a rookie cop who was shot dead by armed men believed to be robbers about to pull off a heist in Malate, Manila last Sunday.

WPD director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong said the crack team is composed of Superintendent Edgar Danao, chief of the Intelligence and Investigation Division (IID), Superintendent Araceli Hafileña, commander of Station 5 and Chief Inspector Juanito Taluban, head of the Homicide Section.

Bulaong said the crack team is expected to produce results as soon as possible. However, the WPD chief did not give any specific deadline for the arrest of the killers.

Corpuz was shot dead by four men on board an unlicensed Nissan taxi at around 9:30 p.m. on All Souls’ Day by four armed men inside a Nissan taxi without license plates.

The officer was aboard his scooter when he chanced upon the suspects on board the taxi on Vasquez street in Malate. Corpuz signaled the driver of the taxi to pull over.

As he approached the vehicle, the suspects opened fire.

"When the shooting took place, the robbers had to leave the area without carrying out their plans," said WPD spokesperson Chief Inspector Gerry Agunod.

Following the shooting, Bulaong ordered a heightened alert and intensified patrol operations.

Meanwhile, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza ordered the WPD to adopt a police "buddy system" so every police officer on patrol has a backup, noting Corpuz was alone when he was killed.

He said there is usually an increase in robberies and other street crimes in Metro Manila during the Christmas season and reminded the WPD that regular police patrols, augmented by increased anti-crime operations by special units can deter crime.

"What would discourage criminal elements from operating in Manila is the certainty that they would be caught," the mayor said.