Power meter theft suspects kill cop

MANILA, Philippines - A Manila policeman was stabbed dead in Binondo, Manila Friday night by two of the men he was tailing because of their alleged involvement in electric meter thefts.

One of the suspects was subsequently killed when he tried to shoot it out with the victim’s colleagues, who tracked him to a nearby hospital.

Meisic police station chief Superintendent Rogelio Rosales Jr. had ordered his men to conduct a surveillance operation on the “Electric Meter” gang reportedly responsible for thefts of electric meters from Binondo households. The gang members sell their stolen electric meters to another gang involved in the illegal installation of electric power in Parola households, Rosales said.

A police report stated that at around 9:30 p.m. Friday, Police Officer 3 Felimon Olonan, 43, was tailing two suspected gang members along a dimly portion of Camba street in Binondo when he was waylaid by the suspects. A certain “Nelson” reportedly hugged Olonan while Marvic Lalu, 27, stabbed him 10 times in the body. When Olonan fell, Lalu took his service firearm, a loaded .9mm caliber Beretta, and fled.

Olonan was declared dead on arrival at the Justice Jose Abad Santos Hospital.

Hours later, Rosales received a report that Lalu was at the Ospital ng Maynila for treatment of a knife wound in the hand. “The suspect could have hurt himself while stabbing my policeman,” Rosales told The STAR.

Together with a witness, Rosales and his men proceeded to the hospital to arrest Lalu. However, Lalu tried to fight off the arresting officers. Rosales broke his left arm in a scuffle. 

When Lalu was subdued, police took him to Parola in Binondo, where he reportedly hid Olonan’s service firearm and to arrest Nelson. However, when the policemen were busy scouring the area, Lalu got hold of Olonan’s firearm from where he hid it and aimed it at his escort. PO3 Alexis Cardinez, with a drawn pistol, shot at Lalu and hit him in the face. Lalu was rushed to the Mary and Child Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Rosales said a manhunt operation has been launched for the remaining suspect, including other members of the “Electric Meter” gang.