Rookie cop killed

A rookie policeman was stabbed and shot to death while he was arresting two suspected law offenders in Sta. Mesa, Manila last Monday night.

Police Officer 1 Randy Adovas, 29, detailed at the Regional Special Action Unit (RSAU) of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, died at the Lourdes Hospital while undergoing treatment. He sustained multiple stab wounds and two gunshot wounds in the body.

One of the suspects, identified as Joseph Asilan, 35, was arrested by responding policemen. The other suspect managed to elude arrest.

Investigations conducted by SPO2 William Gondranios showed Adovas, who was in complete police uniform, arrested two men along V. Francisco street in Sta. Mesa for possession of deadly weapon.

While the cop was about to handcuff one of the suspects, the latter’s companion managed to draw a concealed fan knife and stabbed the surprised policeman. The victim tried to put up a fight but was overpowered by the two suspects.

One of the suspects grabbed the cop’s service firearm and shot the victim twice in the body.

The sound of gunfire attracted the patrolling policemen in the area, resulting in the apprehension of one of the suspects.

Police seized a bloodied 19-inch fan knife from the arrested suspect, while a slug and an empty cartridge from a caliber .9 mm were recovered at the scene.

Police are now hunting down the other suspect who also took the cop’s service firearm. – Nestor Etolle