NPD cop faces murder raps for informant's slay

A police officer was arrested and charged with murder for allegedly shooting dead a vendor, who also works as a police informant, Friday morning in Caloocan City.

Police Officer 1 Domingo Ochoa, 36, assigned at the Northern Police District (NPD) Headquarters, is detained at the Caloocan City police station detention cell for reportedly killing 40-year-old Flamir Ralar, his neighbor.

“Ochoa was immediately charged with murder before the Caloocan City prosecutor’s office for Ralar’s killing,” Senior Police Officer 2 Raymund Mendoza, Caloocan City police prober, told The STAR.

Investigation showed that Ochoa, who was under the influence of liquor, had a confrontation with the victim at a billiard hall in the Bonifacio market, where they reside, at around 9:45 a.m.

At the height of the confrontation, Ochoa allegedly pulled his .9mm pistol and shot Ralar at close range, hitting the victim in the chest and stomach.

Ralar was brought to the Manila Central University (MCU) Hospital but he died while undergoing treatment.

Mendoza said yesterday that an investigation, led by Senior Police Officer I Joel Montebon, was still being conducted to determine what caused the fatal confrontation.

Police sources, however, said Ochoa confronted Ralar about supposed reports that Ralar linked him to a series of petty crimes in their area and for branding him as a “protector” of thieves.              – Pete Laude