Quezon City cop gunned down

MANILA, Philippines - A policeman was shot dead in Loyola Heights, Quezon City before noon yesterday.

Police Officer 3 Fredrick Gracilla, 38, was riding a motorcycle driven by his cousin, Darius de Leon, along Esteban Abada street when two men on another motorcycle overtook them and shot him repeatedly.

Gracilla died at the scene but De Leon was unscathed. The assailants sped away.

Investigators recovered four spent cartridges and a slug from a .45 caliber pistol.

Gracilla, who was detailed at the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Station 3, allegedly logged in for work hours earlier and was believed to be on duty when he was attacked, a police officer said on condition of anonymity. He was wearing civilian clothes at the time.

The victim had transferred from QCPD Station 6 less than a month ago.

QCPD homicide investigation chief Inspector Elmer Monsalve said the attack was caught by a surveillance camera at one of the houses near the crime scene.