Man hurt in shootout with Caloocan cops

A man armed with an automatic pistol was hurt during an alleged shootout with police officers before midnight Saturday in Caloocan City.

Nashrullah Midzangcal, alias Lumambas Nashrullah, 44, a resident of Barangay Central in Quezon City, is confined at the Manila Central University Hospital for a gunshot wound in the stomach.

Investigation showed that at around 11 p.m., the Caloocan City police received a call from a “concerned citizen” claiming he saw an armed man alighting from a green Nissan Urvan (ZSF-178) on 7th Avenue.

Police Officers 1 Jomar Ronquillo and Michelle Alcantara, Police Officers 3 Ricky Sta. Isabel and Renato Ablaza with Police Officer 2 Felimon Arenas went to the area in an unmarked vehicle.

They saw the Nissan Urvan parked along D. Aquino Street on 7th Avenue and moments later a man, described by the caller, emerged from a billiard hall in the area.

But the armed man ran away towards P. Sevilla street when he saw the cops. The policemen, with Sta. Isabel leading, pursued the fleeing man but were fired upon by the suspect.

The policemen ducked for cover as the man fired again at them.

Sta. Isabel fired back with his 9mm pistol, hitting Midzangcal in the stomach.

Police arrested Midzangcal, who yielded a .45 caliber pistol with six bullets. He was brought to the MCU Hospital for treatment.

When the policemen returned to the Nissan Urvan, Khorex Sarao, also of Quezon City, tried to drive away but was stopped. Sarao was arrested.

Scene of the Crime Operatives recovered two shells for a .45 caliber pistol and one for a 9mm pistol from the crime scene.

Asked what Midzangcal and Sarao were doing in the area and why they were armed, Sta. Isabel said they were still investigating. – Pete Laude