Three charged for cop’s slay

Three men were charged with murder yesterday for stabbing to death a policeman shortly after midnight Wednesday in Malabon City. One of the suspects was wounded when the dying policeman fired his service firearm at his fleeing assailants.

Suspects Pascualito Alcagno alias "Nonoy," 27, of Pasig City and Rueto Macabilin alias "Toto," of Barangay Concepcion, Malabon City have been committed to the city jail without bail as recommended by Prosecutor Ojer Pacis of the Malabon-Navotas Prosecutor’s Office.

The slain police officer was identified as PO2 Amado Villanueva, 33, of the Malabon City Police Station. He later died at the Chinese General Hospital due to a lone stab wound in the back.

Carlito Amado, 43, married, of 215 Sitio Catmon, Malabon City was hit by a bullet from Villanueva’s 9 mm service pistol as he and his companions tried to escape from the scene. He was taken to the Tondo General Hospital where he is recovering under police watch.

Investigation showed Villanueva was waiting for a ride home at around 12:15 a.m. along Gov. Pascual Avenue in Sitio Gulayan, Barangay Concepcion when one of the suspects stabbed him with eight-inch icepick in the back. The motive for the killing has not been established yet, probers said.

Even as he lay dying, Villanueva still managed to draw his gun and fire several shots at the fleeing suspects. The suspects were later arrested in a follow-up operation. – Jerry Botial