Cop in colleague’s slay negative of gunpowder

 The policeman who allegedly shot and killed his colleague was found negative during the paraffin test conducted by the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory.

The slain policeman, however, was found positive based on the results of the examination.

PO1 Mark Anthony Manlosa admitted shooting PO1 Calvin Dinampo of the Talisay City Police Station on Christmas Eve after the latter reportedly took hostage a sidewalk vendor and tried to shoot him.

Manlosa is now assigned as tourism cop of the Cebu City Police Office.

Manlosa was going home on board his motorcycle when he saw Dinampo walking along Katipunan Street in barangay Tisa with pistol in hand.

Manlosa claimed he approached Dinampo and asked him if he is a member of the PNP. But Dinampo instead reportedly grabbed firecracker vendor Jonathan Añana and tried to shoot Manlosa.

But Manlosa reportedly immediately opened fire and hit Dinampo. A two-year-old girl was also hit during the incident.

Homicide investigators recovered from the crime scene a 9 mm pistol reportedly owned by Dinampo, an empty shell of 9 mm pistol, a .45 caliber pistol reportedly owned by Manlosa and nine empty shells of .45 caliber pistol.

Dinampo was rushed to the hospital but died later due to several gunshot wounds he sustained. His relatives have cried foul about the manner of his murder, saying it was “overkill.”

The Homicide Section of the Cebu City Police Office has filed charges of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide against Manlosa, but the case was later upgraded by Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office to homicide.

SPO1 Jay Yballe told The Freeman yesterday that the result of the paraffin test showed that only the slain policeman, who was said to have fired one shot, was found positive of gunpowder nitrate while Manlosa, who allegedly fired nine times as “self defense,” was not.

However, Yballe said Chief Insp. Mutchit Salinas, head of the Chemistry Branch of the PNP Crime Laboratory, has explained that there are instances when a man who fired a gun is found negative during a paraffin test when the gun he uses emits less gunpowder nitrates.

This is the reason why paraffin test is considered not conclusive as evidence before the court, Yballe said. — Edwin Ian Melecio/LPM