Mandaluyong cop shot dead

An intelligence officer of the Mandaluyong City police was shot dead in front a fastfood restaurant in Pasig City yesterday.

PO2 Eliseo Versoza sustained multiple gunshot wounds in the body at the Rizal Medical Center.

Superintendent Ericson Velasquez, Mandaluyong City police chief ordered a thorough investigation into the shooting.

"I will see to it that the perpetrators of this crime are behind bars," Velasquez told The Star.

Initial reports reaching Velasquez showed that Versoza and two of the suspects entered a hamburger outlet located on Pioneer street in Pasig City at 2:30 p.m. yesterday.

The officer and the suspects occupied separate tables outside the restaurant, Velasquez said.

After a few minutes, the two suspects stood up, pulled out their handguns and fired at will at Versoza.

As the officer fell, one of the suspects grabbed his caliber .45 pistol before he and his companion joined a third suspect who was waiting on a red motorcycle.

They fled toward Mandaluyong City.

Danny Tuyor, a member of the barangay security force in Barangay San Antonio, Pasig, brought Versoza to the hospital.

Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO) operatives recovered 11 spent shells from a caliber .45 pistol and 9mm automatic at the crime scene.

Velasquez said he was at a loss as to the motive behind the killing of his intelligence officer.

"We are still conducting a record and background check on Versoza for us to be able to get a clear picture of his killing," said Velasquez, noting that Versoza has just recently rejoined the police service after being dismissed for a major offense years back. "

Ang sigurado lang dito, kakilala niya ang umupak sa kanya," the Mandaluyong City police chief said.

In Tondo, Manila, a Navotas-based Maritime cop was shot dead last Sunday night while intervening in a street fight.

National Capital Region-Maritime Office chief Superintendent Demosthenes "Bu" Felix identified the slain officer as SPO1 Wilfredo Cagas, an NCRMO intelligence operative.

Cagas succumbed to a bullet wound in the head.

Senior Inspector Melvin Laguros, NCRMO intelligence and investigation chief, said Cagas was on an official assignment when he noticed a commotion on MICT Road, Pier 2, North Harbor in Tondo at around 9:30 p.m.

Cagas, described by Laguros as a silent worker, tried to investigate, but was met by three men, one armed with a caliber .38 revolver, and was shot once in the head.

"Without provocation, one of the suspects put his arms around Cagas’ shoulders and pumped a single bullet into his head, killing our agent on the spot," Laguros said.

The gunman fled together with his two cohorts, taking with them the officer’s caliber .45 caliber pistol.

Felix said an investigation conducted by his office, in coordination with the Manila Police District (MPD), resulted in the identification of the gunman.

"The triggerman is a known toughie in the area. He is now the subject of the Maritime and Manila police manhunt operation," Felix said.

Felix, who hosted yesterday the celebration of the 11th Headquarters’ NCRMO community relations month, assured residents, especially in Navotas, of "honest and effective performance of our duties as men in uniform."

"We are here to see to it that the services expected of us are delivered to the citizenry with excellence. May we work together hand in hand toward progress," he told them. – With Sandy Araneta, Pete Laude, Nestor Etolle