Manila policeman shot dead in Quiapo

A Manila policeman was shot dead by one of four men he tried to accost in Quiapo, Manila Monday night.

Dead on the spot was Police Officer 2 Rolando Abello, 36, detailed at the Plaza Miranda Police Community Precinct of the Western Police District. He sustained a single bullet wound below the ear.

Investigation showed that Abello, together with SPO1 Guillermo Sartin, were patrolling Paterno Street near Quezon Boulevard in Quiapo on board a motorcycle when they chanced upon four males on an alley.

Sartin said Abello was frisking one of the men when the suspect approached the victim from behind and shot him in the head.

Though stunned, Sartin said he managed to draw his service firearm and fired at the scampering men. He said he managed to hit one of them.

Follow-up operation resulted in the arrest of one of the suspects identified as Antonio de la Cruz, 30, a Sigue-Sigue Sputnik Gang member, of 28 West Dahlia st., Fairview, Quezon City. – Nestor Etolle