Cop stabbed, shoots attackers, dies

ILOILO CITY, Philippines  — A policeman of the City Public Safety Company was killed by three bystanders, but was able to shoot them all in an apparent attempt to disable them in a fight that took place near his house at Brgy. Calaparan in Arevalo district of this city, early morning yesterday.

PO1 Amar Dixon succumbed to six stab injuries on his stomach and was declared dead on arrival at Iloilo Doctors’ Hospital. He however managed to fight back by shooting at attackers: Edgar Gascon, 21, and Wilfredo Manar, 30, both residents of the same barangay; and Joren Quinaguran, 27, a native of Pototan, Iloilo. The three, who were relatives, were hit and brought to St. Therese Hospital.

Witnesses claimed that they heard six gun fires, then saw Gascon bleeding with gunshot injuries on his right thigh and left leg, Manar with wounds on the left side of his body and left leg, and Quinaguran with injuries on his left leg.

Senior Insp. Lea Peña, Arevalo Police chief, said, “Apparently, there was no intention to kill. Gusto lang siguro ni PO1 Dixon na ma-disable ‘yung tatlo para hindi na siya saksakin.”

Investigators said that, before the encounter, Dixon came from his parents’ house in Delgado Street of this city and, together with his friends Emil and Ramil, went to his sister’s house in Brgy. Calaparan. “Wala kasi ang sister niya kaya siya muna ang tumitingin dun kung minsan,” Peña said.

At around 1:50 a.m. when they reached the place, Ramil and Emil went ahead to the house while Dixon, for some unknown reasons, stayed at the main road of the village where he chanced upon the three bystanders. He reportedly took out his mobile phone and use it to take pictures of the three.

Gascon and Manar approached Dixon and confronted him while Quinaguran stayed behind, holding a knife. The confrontation turned heated that the three took turns in boxing and stabbing Dixon. The injured policeman ran to ask for help from his classmate, PO2 Renante Guzman, who was residing nearby.

Dixon frantically knocked on Guzman’s house but when it was not immediately opened, he went to the other side and ran along an alley until he reached a dead end. With nowhere to go, Dixon pulled out his firearm and shot his rushing assailants.

Guzman later explained that he failed to open the door for Dixon because he was at the time sleeping at the second floor of his house. He said that, when he heard gunfires, he quickly grabbed his gun and went out of the house where he saw the wounded Dizon and the three assailants. He, along with other residents, rushed the four to the hospital.

Peña said that, upon receiving the report of the incident, she and her personnel immediately responded to the crime scene. Dixon’s gun and the suspects’ knife were already nowhere to be found, and that the policeman’s mobile phone and wallet were missing.

According to Guzman’s mother, he saw a man taking Dixon’s firearm. She even asked him where would he bring the gun but the man simply answered, “diri lang.”

Peña said that they are still looking for the man who took the firearm and the persons who possibly kept the other items from the crime scene.

Dixon has a wife who is pregnant with their first child.  (FREEMAN)