Drunk ‘kotong’ cop kills driver, wounds foreman

A 21-year-old truck driver was shot dead and a foreman was critically wounded, while an engineer escaped from a drunken police officer who made them bend over and line up before shooting them yesterday before dawn in Pasig City.

PO2 Rolando Lipata said SPO1 Robert Ortiz, of the Pasig City police Sub-Station 3 in Karangalan Village, Barangay Dela Paz, ordered the three men to line up and shot them at close range.

Rodel Bacolod, a stay-in worker of 484 J.P. Rizal street, Lamuan, Marikina died before reaching the Pasig General Hospital from a single bullet in the head, while his foreman, Fernando Giludo, 32, is in critical condition after he was hit in the face. Engineer Lawrence Mata luckily escaped the twisted SPO1 Ortiz.

The incident happened in front of the impounding area of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) along Ortigas Ave., Barangay Rosario at around 3:30 a.m., said Pasig police chief, Superintendent John Sosito.

Mata told reporters they were on board a white Isuzu BF (WAD-836), cruising Ortigas Avenue, when a mobile patrol car with body number E-231 suddenly blocked their path. An intoxicated Ortiz instructed them to alight from the van and Bacolod asked him what violation he had committed.

Ortiz asked for his driver’s license and then ordered them all to transfer to the police car. Inside, the policeman ordered the three to shell out P2,000 for their liberty, but Bacolod said he only had P100 in his pocket because they had not yet received their salaries.

Because of his reply, Ortiz got mad. Three times, Mata said, the suspect would move the car four meters then stop. Every time, he would order them out of the car and they would haggle over the price of their release.

Finally, when they were inside the car again, the officer cocked his gun and said, "I will count to three, if you don’t run. . . I’ll kill you."

However, when they tried to open the doors, they found them locked and they were left with no option but to ask for Ortiz’ forgiveness and to be allowed to go home.

But the officer again ordered them out and told them to line up bent over, with their backs facing the policeman.

Ortiz, Mata said, first pointed his gun at Bacolod. A shot rang out and Bacolod fell. He then aimed his gun at Giludo, hitting his face. Mata did not wait for a third shot and ran. Ortiz fired a shot in his direction, but missed.

The police officer boarded his police car and sped off. Concerned citizens brought the victims to the hospital. Mata immediately reported the incident to the police which led to Ortiz’ capture at the PCP station.

Sosito, a lawyer, said that Ortiz would be charged with murder and frustrated murder, depending on the status of Giludo, who was still fighting for his life as of press time.

Media men tried to get Ortiz’ side of the story but he refused to comment. He was taken out in handcuffs for inquest around 1:30 p.m. yesterday.