Cop shoots cop in protection racket dispute

MANILA, Philippines - A Camp Crame-based policeman allegedly shot a Manila policeman Sunday night in Tondo, Manila over an alleged protection racket involving banned video-karera machines.

According to initial reports, Police Officer 2 Alfredo Custodio, 43, reportedly confronted PO1 Dranreb Cipriano for meddling in the operation of his video-karera machines in Velasquez, Tondo.

Custodio reportedly pointed a gun at Cipriano’s head, but the latter batted away the gun and shot Custodio in the stomach.

Custodio, assigned at the District Police Intelligence and Operations Unit (DPIOU) of the Manila Police District, is reportedly in critical condition at the Mary Johnston Hospital.

Doctors had reportedly performed an operation to remove a foot-long segment of the large intestine.

Meanwhile, a manhunt has been launched against Cipriano after he reneged on his promise to surrender, according to investigators of the General Assignment Section, which handles cases against men in uniform.

The STAR tried but failed to get the reaction of DPIOU head Chief Inspector Fernando Opelanio over Custodio’s alleged protection racket.

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim has ordered the seizure of all illegal gambling machines, such as video-karera and color game machines, to prevent minors from being lured into illegal gambling.

As this developed, Sta. Cruz police station chief Superintendent James Afalla seized a color game board and two video-karera machines allegedly operated by Gina Gutierrez along Tambunting street.

The video-karera machines in Tondo that ignited the shootout between the two policemen were also allegedly operated by Gutierrez, who reportedly caused the proliferation of illegal gambling machines in the city, according to intelligence operatives.