Mechanic arrested for shooting guard

A motorcycle mechanic was arrested Thursday for the near-fatal shooting of a security guard in Caloocan City four months ago.

Chief Inspector Bartolome Tarnate, Caloocan City police Sub-Station 2 commander, said Michael Mazo, 26, a resident of Barangay 25, is the prime suspect in the shooting of Frankie Reponte, 33, employed by the Elite security agency.

Reponte is still confined at the East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City due to bullet wounds in the neck and another in the left thigh that shattered his bones.

Mazo has a standing warrant of arrest issued by Caloocan City Judge Mariam Bien for allegedly pistol-whipping Roldan Valencia two years ago.

“He is a known toughie in their area and also a subject of numerous complaints by his neighbors,” PO1 Ohnasis Tagudin, SS-2 desk officer, told The STAR.

Last Oct. 15, Reponte was riding his motorcycle home to Barangay 20 from work when he engaged in a minor traffic altercation with the suspect, who was also on a motorcycle along C-3 Road in Caloocan City.

The suspect reportedly shouted invectives at Reponte, who ignored him and continued driving. The suspect allegedly chased him and shot him several times.

Reponte sustained bullet wounds in the neck and in the left thigh while his motorcycle was hit four times.

The suspect only stopped shooting at Reponte when he fell from his motorcycle, police said.

Bystanders rushed him to the hospital for treatment while the suspect fled with his motorcycle.

Chairman Rosa Justo of Barangay 20, with the help of witnesses, provided police investigators PO2 Frederick Manansala and PO2 Robert Colina vital information leading to Mazo’s arrest at around 6 p.m. on 4th Avenue, Caloocan City.

Mazo said his lawyer advised him not to talk about the case.              – Pete Laude