Manhunt on for cop tagged in family’s slay

MANILA, Philippines — A manhunt has been launched for a Caloocan policeman accused of killing a couple and their son last Friday, officials said yesterday.

Tracker teams from the Caloocan City police and the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) are scouring “all the possible areas where Police Officer 3 Jerry Antonio could be hiding,” an insider said.

The team went to Antonio’s house after he was tagged in the murders but no one was there, the source added.

Northern Police District director Chief Superintendent Rolando Anduyan has relieved Antonio’s immediate superior, Senior Inspector Allan Apa, chief of the Caloocan police’s mobile patrol unit.

Caloocan police chief Senior Superintendent Restituto Arcanghel said Antonio’s status is “AWOL (absent without leave) so he is going to be charged.” 

In a radio interview yesterday, QCPD director Chief Superintendent Joselito Esquivel Jr. warned Antonio they will not hesitate to use force if he puts up a fight.

Esquivel said they have yet to receive surrender feelers from Antonio. He believes they are closing in on the wanted policeman.

Witnesses said Antonio was the last person seen leaving the house of Romeo and Christine Ado in Barangay Bagong Pag-asa, Quezon City after several shots were heard at around 12:30 a.m.

The couple and their 12-year-old son Ado Jr. died at the scene, while their three-year-old grandson was unhurt.

Probers said they recovered from Christine’s pocket a pouch containing two sachets of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu and a disposable lighter.

Police said they were looking into revenge as a possible motive for the killing.

The couple filed a complaint against Antonio for grave threats and violation of the anti-child abuse law last April after he allegedly pointed his handgun at Christine and her daughter and accused them of being drug suspects.

Surrender

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) urged police officers involved in the kidnapping and extortion of a drug suspect from Cavite and Antonio to turn themselves in.

“They should surrender or submit themselves to judicial process if they really have not committed any wrongdoing,” said PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Benigno Durana Jr.

Durana said a manhunt is ongoing for the seven policemen tagged in the kidnapping of Cyrus Ligutan on Wednesday.

Police Officer 3 Joel Lupig, PO2 Vener Guanlao, and PO1s Mark Jefferson Fulgencio, Jeffrey de Leon, Raymart Gomez, Jason Arellano and Erickson Rivera have not reported for work.