Another rape suspect slain by Manila cop

MANILA, Philippines - Another rape suspect was shot by a Manila policeman who was about to arrest him in Sampaloc Friday.

Glen Clemente, 25, died yesterday morning while undergoing treatment for two gunshot wounds in the body at the Ospital ng Sampaloc, Police Officer 3 Bernardo Cayabyab stated in a report to Manila Police District homicide section chief Joselito de Ocampo. Clemente was a member of the “Bahala Na Gang,” Cayabyab said.

Clemente was charged with rape, with no bail recommended, in a case filed before the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 9.

The victim’s mother sought police assistance from the MPD Station 4 when her relatives saw Clemente in the neighborhood when he was supposed to be in jail.

When Police Officer 1 William Cristobal tried to arrest Clemente near his home in Sampaloc at around 9:20 a.m., Clemente reportedly resisted arrest and tried to stab the policeman.

Cristobal said since Clemente was in a rage, he was left with no option but to draw his handgun and shoot the suspect twice, one in the right side of the body and the other in the abdomen.

Senior Police Officer 3 Genesis Aliling, also of MPD Station 4, rushed Clemente to the hospital.

‘Death not enough’

Meanwhile, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim reiterated yesterday the need to restore the death penalty as a deterrent to the commission of heinous crimes, particularly after seven-year-old Ernieca Abando was raped and murdered by two pedicab drivers in Sta. Mesa, Manila.

“That has long been my stand. What are you going to do with these kinds of suspects? Death is not enough for them,” he said during the commemoration of the 55th death anniversary of President Ramon Magsaysay at the Manila North Cemetery yesterday morning.

Lim issued his statement as Abando was laid to rest yesterday.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has started its investigation into the death of Roderick Soliveres and Cecilio Bacolo, who admitted to raping and strangling Abando. The two men were shot dead when one of them grabbed a policeman’s firearm.

De Ocampo said the two suspects asked permission to empty their urine container in the restroom near their detention cell. Soliveres grabbed the gun of PO1 Ramil Dimaguiba, and accidentally hit Bacolo while grappling for the gun.

Just as Soliveres managed to get the gun away from Dimaguiba, PO3 Rodel Benitez – who ran to the detention cell upon hearing the gunshot – arrived and told Soliveres to stop. Soliveres reportedly pointed the gun at Benitez, who shot the suspect.

The NBI’s Death Investigation Division sent a letter to MPD director Chief Superintendent Alex Gutierrez last week, asking him to allow them access to the detention cell where the shooting occurred.

Lim said the mayor’s office will conduct its own investigation into the matter, parallel to that of the Commission on Human Rights.

He stressed that policemen have the right to preserve their lives in the face of imminent danger from criminals. He added that while the suspects have their rights, the victim – a seven-year-old girl – was unjustifiably deprived of her rights.