2 Calamba City Hall men, 3 others kill policeman

Camp Vicente Lim, Laguna — Two Calamba City Hall employees and three others shot dead a police officer during a drinking bout last Tuesday afternoon, the police said.

Chief Superintendent Jesus Versoza, Region 4 police director, identified the suspects as City Hall employees Oniong Castillo and Fernando Geca, Castillo’s son Jimmy, Resty Mamalayan and Michael Manaig.

Versoza said the victim, SPO1 Rufino Maglinao, 44, assigned to the investigation division of the city police, was shot in the face and right shoulder.

Investigation showed that Maglinao was having a drinking spree with one Toots Bagus in his house in Christopher II Subdivision in Barangay Mayapa here when the suspects, all armed with pistols, arrived on board a black Nissan Sentra.

After a round of drinks, one of the suspects drew his firearm and shot Maglinao.

The police said the suspects also shot at a passing car driven by one Harry Sablaya. Another resident, Elmer Balajadia, was hit by a stray bullet in the thigh.

Versoza said Maglinao shot Castillo’s son in the arm two months ago when the latter went berserk during a drinking bout.

He said the Castillos probably wanted to get even with Maglinao although they agreed to amicably settle the case with the policeman giving P150,000 to the Castillos. — Arnell Ozaeta, Ed Amoroso