Christmas Eve Shootout: Charges filed vs. cop who shot cop
He may have done a heroic act when he shot dead a fellow policeman, who allegedly tried to hold hostage a firecracker vendor in barangay Tisa last Christmas eve, but this would not spare PO1 Mark Anthony Manlosa from criminal prosecution as he formally faces two separate charges in court.
The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office yesterday filed charges for homicide and reckless imprudence resulting to physical injuries against Manlosa before the Regional Trial Court.
Assistant city prosecutor Jose Nathaniel Andal indicted Manlosa for homicide and reckless imprudence resulting to physical injuries over the death of PO1 Calvin Dinampo and the injury sustained by a one year-old girl, respectively.
The Cebu City Police Office Homicide Section initially filed a case of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide against Manlosa, but Andal upgraded it to homicide.
Andal recommended a P10,000 bail for the homicide case and another P500 for reckless imprudence resulting to physical injuries.
The homicide section filed the cases against Manlosa in spite the opinion of the city police officials that it was a legitimate police action.
Manlosa, who is assigned a tourist cop in
Supt. Pablo Labra II, deputy city director for operations, said they believe that it was legitimate, but he said that he will still support the charges that the homicide section filed.
“Akong suportahan ang charges nga gi-file batok sa kauban natong police kay sa imbestigasyon nigawas lagi nga it was a legitimate operation kay dunay alarma nga dunay tawong nagdala og armas. Apan kinahanglan nga duna gyuy imbestigasyon, tungod duna tay nabantayan nga possible lapses, kay una, is it necessary for him to fire those bullets to neutralize Dinampo?”
Manlosa admitted shooting Dinampo, but said he did not intend to kill him.
Manlosa claimed that he was on his way home when he saw a man carrying a handgun.
He asked the person if he was a policeman, but the latter did not answer instead grabbed a firecracker vendor to serve as a shield.
The vendor, Allan Añana, confirmed Manlosa’s claim.
In his affidavit, Añana said that he was at the corner of Silver and Gold Streets in Riva Ridge Subdivision selling firecrackers at around 7:30 p.m. last December 24 when Manlosa alighted from his motorcycle and asked the person behind him if he was a policeman.
The person, he later knew as Dinampo, grabbed him and put his arm around his shoulder while pointing his firearm at Manlosa.
Añana said he panicked, but was able to free himself from Dinampo and immediately ran for safety. Añana said he suddenly heard several burst of gunfire and later on found out that the person who grabbed him was already lying on the ground.
Añana’s account was also supported by another witness, Belben Famador, who was with Manlosa when the shooting incident happened.
Famador said he and Manlosa were traveling along Silver and Gold Streets when they noticed a man carrying a gun.
According to Famador, they stopped and observed the person who went near a firecracker vendor.
Manlosa then approached the person to ask if he was a policeman, but the latter suddenly took the vendor hostage.
Some policemen however who refused to be identified believe that the empty shells recovered from the crime scene tell a different story.
Homicide investigators recovered nine empty .45 caliber shells from the scene believed to be from Manlosa’s pistol and one 9-milimeter cartridge believed to have come from Dinampo’s gun.
Aside from the criminal charges, Manlosa will also be facing administrative charges for possible violation of the rules of engagement.
Dinampo’s brother, Ibar, also went to the National Bureau of Investigation yesterday to ask for a fair investigation.
Ibar filed a complaint before the NBI shortly before the homicide section filed the charges against Manlosa before the prosecutor’s office. — with Edwin Ian Melecio/NLQ
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