While conducting roving patrol cop mauled, shot to death
CEBU, Philippines - A policeman died after he was mauled and shot by two motorcycle-riding men at corner P. Del Rosario and Junquera streets in Barangay Kamagayan, Cebu City yesterday dawn.
Police Officer 2 Gerlito Estremos, leader of the Alert Team of Fuente Police Station, died of a gunshot wound and fractured bone in the head and face.
The 35-year-old native of Baybay City, Leyte was conducting a roving patrol looking for two motorcycle-riding men who stole his helmet when the incident happened.
The killing was witnessed by a security guard of an establishment nearby, based on the investigation of the Homicide Section.
The 33-year-old guard, whose name is withheld by The FREEMAN for security reasons, said he saw Estremos and the assailants riding separate motorcycles around 2:40 a.m.
After a while, the two men riding in tandem on a blue XRM motorcycle blocked the policeman’s way.
Estremos, who introduced himself as a law enforcer, reportedly confronted the two for not wearing helmets.
The backrider then alighted from the motorcycle, dragged Estremos and mauled him.
Moments later, Estremos and the man wrestled for the policeman’s service firearm, which then went off. More gunshots rang out and the victim stumbled on the ground.
The men then sped off towards Barangay Day-as, escaping with Estremos’ firearm, which was believed to have been used in shooting of the policeman, who sustained a gunshot wound to the head.
Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) arrived and declared the policeman dead.
The victim was not wearing his police uniform during the incident since he is part of the Alert Team.
Recovered from the crime scene were two dud ammunitions and two empty shells of a .45 caliber pistol.
Also recovered were Estremos’ Honda motorcycle, his wallet containing PNP identification card, driver’s license, and assorted documents, two mobile phones, rubber shoes, two silver rings, leather holster, belt, handcuff case, six live bullets for a cal. 45, and six other live bullets for a cal. 38 revolver.
Roving patrol
CEBU, Philippines - Further investigation showed that prior to the incident, Estremos conducted a roving patrol with PO1 Brando Nacario on board separate motorcycles.
They reached the R. R. Landon Street corner Junquera Street and decided to take shelter because of the rain.
Estremos then instructed Nacario to proceed first as he would still check the attendance of the night watch personnel who were deployed within the jurisdiction of Fuente Police Station.
Moments later, he saw his other patrolling policemen taking shelter.
While waiting for the rain to stop, they noticed a speeding motorcycle and the bakcrider took the victim’s spare helmet, which was placed on his motorcycle parked a few meters away.
They ran after the thieves, but failed to locate them.
At the police station, Estremos was advised by his colleagues not to pursue because they could not ascertain where the thieves sped off.
However, the policeman insisted that he will conduct roving to recover his helmet.
He then saw two men riding a blue XRM motorcycle without wearing helmet. When Estremos confronted the two, it was at this point that he was mauled and shot to death.
Clueless
Senior Supt. Mariano Natu-el, Jr., acting director of Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), gathered together investigators from the Homicide Section, City Intelligence Branch, Investigation and Detective Management Branch, and Fuente Police Station and conducted a case conference about the case.
Natu-el said they remain clueless about the identity of the assailants.
They have at least two eyewitnesses who they will invite today to come up with a sketch of Estremos’ killers.
Natu-el said they will try to secure footages from the security camera of three establishments near the crime scene that could have captured the incident.
The CCPO director said Estremos should have accompanied himself with a police buddy when he insisted to recover his helmet.
“Siguro natandog iyang pride na police siya unya gikawatan siya,†he said.
Natu-el said he could not blame Estremos, whose motorcycle was stolen last month but was later recovered.
Apart from the financial help from Police Regional Office 7, Natu-el said they will contribute money for Estremos’ family as assistance.
Autopsy result conducted on Estremos showed that the bullet hit the left side of his head and exited his right temple, causing his instantaneous death.
“Dul-it gyud pagkapusil kay duna ma’y tattooing sa iyang samad,†said PNP Crime Laboratory chief Nestor Sator.
Sator told The FREEMAN that Estremos suffered broken nose and fractured head as a result from the beatings and that his face was severely bruised.
The policeman also had bruises in his left forearm and wrist, which indicated that he tried to parry the suspect’s attacks.
A good man
The wake for Estremos will be held at the chapel near his residence in sitio Sandayong, Barangay Guadalupe.
Estremos left behind his wife Elmera and six children with the eldest is 13 years old while the youngest is two. Elmera declined to be interviewed.
As far as the victim’s father Rogelio said his son was a good man.
“Wa g’yud koy problema atong akong anak. Maayo g’yud to siya’ng tawo,†a teary-eyed father said.
Estremos’ mother reportedly didn’t like the idea of her eldest son becoming a policeman but insisted on pursuing the career.
Estremos, who graduated in 2006, received praises from his batchmates.
“Kursonada gyud to siya, moalarma gyud,†PO2 Ronie Nodalo of Poro Police Station said.
Estremos, Nodalo said, wore their black batch anniversary shirt when he was killed. They last met during their anniversary last March.
Their batch president, PO2 Lee Hernandez of Pilar Police Station, said Estremos became assistant instructor for their Special Counter-insurgency Operation Unit Training (SCOUT) because of his advanced level.
Estremos was also a classmate of PO1 Noriel Luague, who was also killed during a police operation in December 2007.
Estremos’ colleagues at Fuente Police Station described him as a very accommodating person. -/LPM (FREEMAN)
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