Suspect in road rage slay a convicted killer – QCPD

MANILA, Philippines - A man arrested for the road rage killing of a 17-year-old girl in Quezon City was convicted of homicide in Albay in 2007, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said yesterday.

Jason Bagalacsa, 28, was a fugitive convicted by a court in Tabaco City for homicide and frustrated homicide, said Chief Inspector Rodelio Marcelo, head of the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit.

In an 18-page decision, Judge Arnulfo Cabredo of Tabaco City Regional Trial Court Branch 17 convicted Bagalacsa for shooting arrows at Ernesto Bracino and Vicente Benitez Jr. in Barangay San Jose, Malilipot on the night of Jan. 27, 2007. Bracino died of an arrow in the chest and Benitez was hit in the neck.

On Monday morning, Bagalacsa was arrested after killing Rochelle Tabuzo, 17, following a traffic altercation with a tricycle driver in Quezon City.

Bagalacsa was crossing the street when a tricycle sped past him. A heated altercation ensued between the suspect and the tricycle driver. The suspect pulled out a .45 caliber pistol and shot at the tricycle twice, hitting the girl.

A policeman driving by the area on his motorcycle pursued and arrested Bagalacsa.

Marcelo said that after Bagalacsa’s arrest, he was also tagged by a witness as the same person who shot and hurt Senior Police Officer 3 Renato Corado, 51, in Barangay Sta. Monica, Novaliches on the night of Nov. 20.

Corado was at the wheel of his Toyota Corolla when he drove by the suspect, who was driving a motorcycle. A witness said Bagalacsa turned around and shot the policeman in the back before fleeing.