Cop kills self in church

MANILA, Philippines - A policeman shot himself in the head in a church in Barangay San Bartolome, Quezon City yesterday morning after being named a suspect in the killing of a man who had filed frustrated murder charges against him.

Police Officer 1 Flordelino Ulep, 26, who is assigned with the Quezon City Police District Station 7, shot himself at past 9 a.m. in the adoration hall of San Bartolome Parish Church. Investigator PO2 Julius Balbuena said Ulep shot himself in the right temple using his 9mm service firearm.

Domingo Tadeo, Ulep’s friend, told police Ulep went to his house Tuesday night to drink. He said Ulep seemed troubled but the victim did not say why.

Yesterday morning, Ulep, driving a motorcycle, dropped by Tadeo’s house and asked his friend to accompany him to the church to pray.

After having prayed together, Ulep told Tadeo to go ahead. Tadeo said he was headed for Ulep’s motorcycle when he heard a gunshot. When he turned back, he found Ulep had shot himself.

SPO1 Gregorio Maramag said Ulep was the primary suspect in the death of Dante Anasco, a doorman of a bar at the corner of Commonwealth and Regalado Avenues in Quezon City on Sunday.

Anasco was one of two complainants in a frustrated murder case against Ulep. The case stemmed from an incident in July, in which Anasco and a co-worker were shot by Ulep in the bar as the policeman wanted to get back at persons who beat him up.

Anasco was supposed to appear last Monday at a court hearing in connection with the frustrated murder case.