Cop dead, 2 hurt in Culiat clan war

MANILA, Philippines - A policeman was killed and two others were hurt in shootings that were allegedly caused by a war between two clans in Barangay Culiat, Quezon City Sunday night.

Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Chief Superintendent George Regis said he is alarmed by the shootings and he and other official held a dialogue yesterday with the Muslim community to prevent more deaths. He also deployed police officers to secure the area.

“We assured both parties (of) a fair and just investigation of the incident last Sunday,” Regis said.

Elias Baladji, a Special Action Force (SAF) policeman, was allegedly shot dead by Punyong Abduhadi, a brother of Police Officer 3 Arsad Abduhadi. Punyong was reportedly armed with a .45 caliber handgun.

Arsad told reporters that his brother had nothing to do with the shooting, and that someone else did it. He said Elias’ brother, PO3 Julasri Baladji, a member of the Police Security and Protection Group, went to his house on Libyan street in the Salam Mosque Compound Sunday night. He was armed with a rifle and accompanied by a group of men, with at least one also carrying a rifle.

Arsad claimed that in retaliation, Julasri and his group started strafing his house. His sister-in-law, Yaser Batud, was hit in the hand and his nephew, Boy Caluang, was hit in the knee.

Regis said they have asked the SAF to leave the case to the QCPD and not intervene.

Police Officer 3 Jose Roland Belgica said Elias’ widow narrated that last April, Punyong allegedly shot the victim’s nephew. It was not clear what triggered the shooting.

She said Elias has been searching since April for Punyong, who was in hiding until Sunday’s incident.