'Gunmen at 'cracker stall had rifles, were in combat positions'

MANILA, Philippines - The gunmen who ambushed a police team checking an illegal firecracker stall in Fairview, Quezon City Thursday morning had high-powered guns and were in “combat position,” a lead investigator in the case said yesterday.

Chief Inspector Rodel Marcelo, head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), said they found at the crime scene slugs from Armalite and carbine rifles as well as .40mm and .9mm handguns.

“Based on testimonies of those in the area, we have three aliases of among those who staged the attack,” Marcelo said in an interview.

The QCPD-CIDU has placed under arrest Police Officer 1 Faisal Mala, identified as the owner of the illegal firecracker stall.

Mala was tagged as among those who shot at the policemen but he denied this charge. He also denied knowing the gunmen.

Police Officer 2 Bernardo Quintero was killed in the ambush while PO2 Jessie Adajar was hit in the leg.

Marcelo believes the suspects prepared for the return of the police because the area was raided several days ago. He noted that the area where the makeshift stall stands appeared to be a dead end, with unused concrete drainage pipes positioned on the road, possibly providing cover for the gunmen. There was also a basketball court behind which some of the suspects might have positioned themselves.

“The assailants were really in combat position,” Marcelo said.

Police are preparing charges of murder and frustrated murder against Mala and other still unidentified suspects in the attack. They will also be charged for selling illegal firecrackers.

Marcelo said administrative charges are also being prepared against Mala, who is still in active service.