Teen charged for QC shootout

MANILA, Philippines - A teenager has been charged for the death of an informant and the injuries sustained by a policeman during a shootout following a police operation aimed at arresting his father.

Monaim Dodig, 18, was subjected to inquest proceedings Thursday night on charges of murder, frustrated murder, and illegal possession of firearms.

Superintendent Marcelino Pedrozo Jr., commander of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Station 10, said Police Officer 3 Frederick Gracilla has identified Dodig as the person who shot him and killed police asset Denis Vann Pineda.

The encounter happened between police officers and Dodig’s group on Tuesday afternoon in a slum community in Barangay Central.

Pineda had approached the QCPD Station 10 about the presence of armed men allegedly led by Rizalino Zatar, Dodig’s father, in the area. He agreed to accompany plainclothes policemen, including Gracilla, to the area in an operation to arrest Zatar and his men.

Dodig and security guard Adonis Canque, 29, were each found carrying a .45 caliber gun.

As Dodig was being interviewed by the police Tuesday night, Pedrozo asked the teenager why he shot at the police officers.

“Hindi ko sinasadya. Nakaganun lang ang kamay ko. Pumutok (I did not mean it to happen. My hand just did it. It fired),” the teenager said as he recalled holding the handgun.

Zatar, allegedly leading a group involved in drugs and robbery, was the target of the police operation in Barangay Central on Tuesday afternoon. He was not arrested.

As he talked to policemen, Dodig named his father as Zatar. When asked what the surname of his father was, Dodig said: “Hindi ko alam apelido. Paiba-iba eh (I don’t know his surname. It always changes).”