Manila cop shot dead in Tondo

A Manila policeman was shot dead yesterday morning in Tondo, Manila by a still unidentified man who also took his firearm.

Senior Police Officer 1 Eduardo Chiapoco, 47, was shot in the face by a man, around 25 years old, who was only wearing an undershirt and a pair of shorts. The suspect escaped by threatening bystanders with his gun.

Investigation by the Tondo police showed the incident happened at 9:50 a.m. at the corner of Osmeña and Pacheco streets in Tondo as the victim was on his way home after buying a newspaper from a nearby market.

Chaipoco, assigned to the Western Police District Tactical Operations Center, was declared dead at the Mary Johnson Hospital where his colleagues brought him.

Tondo police chief Superintendent Bernard Tamboan said his men received a call informing them about the shooting of a policeman.

The responding cops found the bloodied victim lying on the pavement.

Witnesses said the suspect appeared to be trailing Chiapoco on his way to the market and back, but once the victim sensed that he was being followed he was shot before he could confront the gunman.

The victim was shot once and the bullet exited his nape.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported yesterday the discovery of World War II ammunition retrieved by a fisherman at the bottom of the shallow waters at the South Harbor of Manila Bay.

The fisherman was only identified as "Mang Rudy," who turned over the ammunition to the PCG. The weapons consisted six projectiles, "with live fuselage" and some bullets.