Valentine's Day shooting: 2 Crame cops charged

LIPA CITY, Philippines  – Charges of murder, frustrated murder and unintentional abortion have been filed against two rookie policemen for allegedly shooting a couple after a traffic dispute here on Valentine’s Day, police said.

Superintendent Francisco Rodriguez, Lipa City police chief, identified the suspects as PO1 William Catapat and PO2 Rosti de Lunas, both assigned to the Police Security Protection Group at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Rodriguez said one of the victims, Gary Estolano, positively identified the two lawmen from file photos of police recruits.

Gary Estolano, 54, and his wife Rosalia, 30, who was four months’ pregnant, were cruising the main road in Barangay Pinagtungulan when their Isuzu Trooper nearly rammed the suspects’ Honda CRV.

Investigation showed that the suspects, both wearing blue PNP T-shirts with police markings, allegedly fired at the Estolanos with M-16 Armalite rifles.

One of the bullets pierced through the back of the Isuzu Trooper, hitting Rosalia in the back.

Estolano rushed his wife to the Mary Mediatrix Hospital where she later died due to organ failure.

The Estolanos were on their way to a resort spa to celebrate their wedding anniversary and Valentine’s Day when they met the tragedy.