Cop beats up Malacañang executive

A man who was supposedly a police officer beat up a Malacañang official at a neighborhood restaurant in Caloocan City Friday night.

Assistant Secretary for External Affairs Manuel Zapanta, 53, a resident of East Grace Park in Caloocan City, was treated at the MCU Hospital for several lacerations and contusions on his head after the suspect hit him with the butt of a handgun several times.

Arlan Pelino, who owns the DTZ Sizzling Restaurant, said he overheard the suspect’s female companion say the suspect was a police officer.

Police Officer 3 Melito Pabon said the incident happened at around 10:45 p.m. Zapanta was waiting to be served his dinner when the suspect, who was in civilian clothes, drew a handgun tucked at his waist, pointed it at the victim and threatened to harm Zapanta.

Police said the suspect must have thought Zapanta was staring at him.

The suspect rushed toward Zapanta and repeatedly struck him on the head until he fell unconscious to the floor.

As this happened, Pelino and the suspect’s female companion found themselves together, hiding in a closet.

Pelino said he heard her say that the suspect was “hot-tempered” even though he was a police officer.

After the incident, the suspect took the woman and they left on a motorcycle, but witnesses failed to jot down the license plate number.

Police and hospital authorities refused to give any more details on Zapanta’s condition. The police are conducting a follow-up investigation as witnesses said they would recognize the suspect if they saw him again.