QC cop killed in Caloocan

A Quezon City police officer, moonlighting as a jeepney driver during his off-duty hours, was shot dead by two men riding tandem on a motorcycle the other night in Caloocan City.

Chief Inspector Jose Valencia, investigation branch chief, identified the victim as Jose Cruz, 46, a member of the Quezon City Police District Warrant and Subpoena Section, and a resident of Capitol Park Homes II in Barangay 179, Caloocan.

Records showed Cruz was driving his passenger jeepney (DGF-920), accompanied by his son Jayvee, 21, to Capitol Park at around 6:50 p.m. when the shooting took place.

As their jeepney reached Malanting street corner Kamagong in Amparo Subdivision, Barangay 179, two men riding tandem on a motorcycle sided up on the driver’s side of the jeepney.

The man at the back drew a handgun — a caliber .45 pistol — and fired at Cruz.

Several bullets hit the officer on the left side of the body, but he still managed to fire his 9 mm handgun at the fleeing suspects.

When the jeepney lurched to a stop, the victim’s son took over the wheel and rushed his father to the San Lorenzo Hospital in Lagro, Quezon City.

Cruz, however, was declared dead by Dr. Jose Marasigan at 7:05 p.m.

PO2 Angeles Lleno recovered from the crime scene two empty shells from a caliber .45 handgun and two empty casings from a 9 mm pistol.

Motive is yet to be established for the killing, police said. – With Pete Laude