Death of fake lawman probed

Calabarzon police director Chief Superintendent Ri­cardo Padilla ordered yesterday a deeper probe into the death of a fake police officer during a scuffle over a gun with his police captors in Angono, Rizal last Friday.

“We will verify whether there is an administrative or operational lapse on the part of the police,” Padilla said.

He directed the Rizal police to dig deeper into the incident that led to the killing of Ignacio Alarcon, a resident of Marikina City.

Reports reaching Padilla showed that Alarcon, wearing a complete police uniform with a supposed rank of chief inspector, introduced himself as assigned in Camp Crame and demanded money from a cockpit operator and a businessman in Angono town last Friday.

Upon receipt of the extortion report, a police team headed by Chief Inspector Arthur Magsungsong, An-go­no police chief, rushed to the Manila East Road near the cockpit arena in Baran-gay San Isidro, but failed to find Alarcon.

However, after several minutes of searching, the police team was able to arrest Alarcon. Initially, Alarcon identified himself as from Camp Crame and claimed that he had orders to put up a checkpoint in the area.

While he was being brought to the Angono police station along with the two complainants, Alarcon reportedly grabbed the firearm of one of his arresting officers, prompting Magsung­song to struggle for possession of the gun.

The gun went off and Alarcon was hit in the left side of the face. He was rushed to the Angono General Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Police recovered from Alar­con a caliber .22 pistol and a police identification card.

Padilla directed the Rizal police to get the testimonies of the complainants against Alarcon and other witnesses to the incident.

He assured Alarcon’s family that there will be no whitewash in the investigation.

“We are interested in knowing the truth behind the incident. We will punish our own policemen should they be found to have committed administrative or operational lapses,’ he said. – Non Alquitran