Cop killed in shootout with intel officers

MANILA, Philippines - A policeman detailed with the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) died at the Camp Crame Hospital after engaging officers from the Intelligence Group (IG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in a shootout at a bus loading bay along EDSA Friday night.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz said Police Officer 1 Leo Antiporda, 31, sustained gunshot wounds after engaging the PNP-IG agents led by Chief Inspector Cesar Calmada in a shootout at about 8:05 p.m.

Cruz said the PNP-IG agents were conducting a surveillance operation on Antiporda and another police officer, who were then on a Yamaha motorcycle at EDSA’s northbound lane bus loading bay in front of a mall.

According to Cruz, the suspects were allegedly protecting pickpockets who prey on passengers of buses plying the EDSA route.

Cruz said Antiporda and his companion sensed they were being watched by the PNP-IG agents and immediately engaged the police intelligence officers in a shootout.