Baseco cops’ ‘striker’ gunned down

MANILA, Philippines - A 31-year-old “striker” of the Baseco police precinct was shot dead while running after three armed men in Port Area, Manila on Friday night.

Jefferson Barel – whose job was to run errands for police officers – was shot four times. He was rushed to Manila Doctors Hospital, where physicians declared him dead at past 11 p.m.

Senior Police Officer 1 John Charles Duran of the Manila Police District’s homicide section said Barel joined Police Officer 2 Abel Sadiosa in conducting “Oplan Sita.”

About 9:45 p.m., Sadiosa flagged down three men riding a motorcycle that has no plate number. The men ignored Sadiosa and fled. Barel, meanwhile, got on a motorcycle and chased the armed men.

By the time Sadiosa caught up with Barel, he was dying from the gunshot wounds, Duran said.