Cop shoots vendor dead

A policeman of Valenzuela City shot in the legs a vendor who had ran amuck and tried to stab him Saturday evening. The vendor bled to death.

Police Officer 1 Edison Ofilan, 35, of the city’s Police Community precinct 1 shot Edmar Torres, 33, of Paso de Blas Market, who died from loss of blood after he sustained gunshot wounds in both legs.

Investigation showed that Torres was pushing his cart home along Malinta Bridge, Malinta Exit when it was suddenly hit by a speeding passenger jeepney.

Torres ran after the jeepney and became angry, shouting invectives at the driver, when the vehicle sped away.

He went home, came back armed with a nine-inch fan knife and tried to stab passersby.

Concerned individuals called the nearby police station. Ofilan and Police Officer 1 Jose Rodel Pongyan responded right away.

The cops failed to pacify the vendor who vented his ire on the lawmen, attacking them with his knife. Ofilan was hit in the left arm and shot Torres in both legs after firing warning shots.

The policemen brought Torres to the Babaguin General Hospital but later transferred him to the Valenzuela District Hospital where Torres failed to reach alive.

"If the victim was only wounded in the legs, why did he die?" Senior Police Officer 4 Jess Saguisi asked.

Superintendent Nemesio Neron, Valenzuela police chief, ordered a through probe of the case while homicide charges are being readied against Ofilan, who voluntarily surrendered after the incident. – Pete Laude