Soldier guns down cop in bar

MANILA, Philippines - An off-duty cop was shot dead while a companion was wounded after trouble erupted between them and a group of soldiers inside a beer joint early yesterday morning in Malabon City.

Motive for the killing is still being established by the police.

Inspector Gregorio Catacutan, city police investigation chief, identified the victim as PO3 Randy Francisco, 32, of the NCRPO Logistics in Bigutan, Taguig City and resident of Burgos street in Barangay Concepcion, Malabon City.

Francisco succumbed to gunshot wounds in the neck and upper left side of the body.He expired along the way and was declared dead on arrival at around 2:30 a.m. by Dr. Aster Sagun of the Pagamutang Bayan ng Malabon on Dagat-Dagatan Avenue where he was taken immediately after the shooting. Francisco’s companion and cousin, Nelson Palero, 27, who witnesses said started it all, was grazed by a bullet in the right eyebrow but got hit in the right arm. He was taken to the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center in Manila for surgery.

PO2 Jerry de la Torre, officer on case, identified the suspects as Airman First Class Regie Pobre, the alleged gunman, and Airman First Class Mark Santiago, both members of the 750th Battalion of the Philippine Air Force, an augmentation force to the Northern Police District stationed in Barangay Tonsuya.

Investigators said both Pobre and Santiago are at large but have already sent surrender feelers through their superiors.

De la Torre told The STAR that a group of soldiers led by a lieutenant (equivalent rank of Police Inspector in the PNP) went up to the police station at around 5 a.m. yesterday to get the police report on the shooting. He was reportedly told not to worry as they will surrender them to the authorities at anytime when they return to barracks.

Recovered from the crime scene were a Norinco .45 caliber pistol owned by Francisco, the magazine with two live rounds, one deformed empty shell and one deformed bullet. Also impounded at the police station were two Honda XRM motorcycles allegedly belonging to the suspects and abandoned by its riders at the crime scene.

Improvized plate

A blue one sported an improvised plate (for lost plate OT-5834) and was marked “Airborne 35” on its headlight cowling while a red one (IA-8771) was marked by a dirty finger and the number 22 and “Andrei” on the engine cover.

De la Torre said the shooting broke out at around 1:30 a.m. at the Salo-Salo Grill on Gov. Pascual Avenue in Barangay Concepcion. The two groups were seated in two separate tables when Palero allegedly stood up, approached the suspects’ table and, without provocation witnesses said punched Santiago in the face.

Coming to his colleague’s aid, Pobre reportedly whipped out a gun and fired at Palero grazing him in the eyebrow even as a bullet hit him in the right arm. As Palero staggered back, Francisco stood up and introduced himself as a policeman and tried to pacify Pobre. The soldier responded by repeatedly firing at Francisco who was fatally hit in the neck and right side of the body. The suspects fled on foot even as they threatened to shoot anyone in the victim’s group if they gave chase.

Francisco left behind his young wife Mary, 32, a sales lady at the Trinoma in Quezon City and two daughters. Their youngest is barely a month old.

The PAF men escaped and abandoned their motorcycle, but left behind their ID cards.

In a related development, the Air Force yesterday ordered an investigation to look into the shooting incident involving two of its men Tuesday night at a night club in Malabon and to determine the charges that could be filed against them.

Maj. Gerry Zamudio, Air Force spokesman said Airmen First Class Pobre and Santiago are already in the custody of Maj. Thomas Pacia, chief of the 750th Combat Group, which is under the PAF Special Operations Wing. Zamudio said the investigation is intended to complement the one that is already being conducted by the police.

Pobre and Santiago’s unit is involved in several civil military operations in Malabon, which are being undertaken by the AFP’s National Capital Region Command.