Lawman shoots, handcuffs trike driver over traffic row

MANILA, Philippines - A National Capital Region Police Office policeman was arrested in Quezon City Friday night after he shot a tricycle driver in the leg following a traffic altercation.

Police Officer 1 Edison Canaveral allegedly even handcuffed Lauro Lorenzo, who was already wounded, said Superintendent Marcelino Pedrozo Jr., commander of the Quezon City Police District Station 4. It was then when policemen from the station noticed the commotion, accosted Canaveral and brought Lorenzo to the East Avenue Medical Center for treatment.

Canaveral’s wife, Charmaine, said her husband just defended himself after the victim pulled out a bladed weapon and attacked them. 

Pedrozo said the incident happened along Damong Maliit Street in Jordan Heights Subdivision in Barangay Nagkaisang Nayon, Novaliches at around 7:30 p.m.

Canaveral was reportedly driving a motorcycle with his wife and child when the victim sped off from behind them, nearly causing the motorcycle to fall over.

Lorenzo claimed Canaveral, 28, dropped off his wife and child elsewhere and returned to look for him, Pedrozo said. When the suspect spotted the 43-year-old driver, he allegedly shot the latter in the left leg, with the bullet going through the right leg. Pedrozo said the suspect used his .45 caliber service firearm.

Charmaine said it was Lorenzo who started it all. She said after the near accident, Lorenzo – who appeared to be drunk – got off his vehicle and pulled out a bladed weapon to threaten them.

She said she and their child boarded another tricycle and left her husband behind, adding that he shot Lorenzo to defend himself.

According to Pedrozo, it was not the first time Canaveral was involved in a traffic altercation that turned violent. “Last year, when he was still a trainee, he also shot an FX driver in another traffic altercation,” he said. Canaveral’s wife said there was no such incident.