Cop vs barangay brigade: Six hurt

At least five barangay tanods and a policeman were hurt when they figured in a shootout the other night in Quezon City following the arrest of the officer’s nephew for possession of a deadly weapon.

SPO3 Venencio Herrera, 40, assigned at the Central Police District-Station 6, suffered bullet wounds in the body and is now in serious condition at the East Avenue Medical Center.

Fernando Palermo, Jelly Trabado, Noel Orquilla, Rey Parenas, and Feliz Catalan also suffered gunshot wounds and are confined at the same hospital.

All five men are barangay watchmen at Batasan Hills, Quezon City.

According to SPO1 Rafael de Peralta, the shootout between the cop and the barangay officials was triggered by the arrest of the policeman’s nephew, Rodrigo Rapin, who was accused of illegal possession of a bladed weapon.

De Peralta said that they heard two sides of the story but investigators have yet to determine "whose claims hold true."

Reports showed that the incident occurred at about 9:45 p.m. at the barangay outpost on Freedom Park 6, Barangay Batasan Hills, Quezon City.

Rapin, who had just been arrested by barangay tanods, sought help from his uncle, SPO3 Herrera.

The CPD officer claimed he did "a little friendly prodding" with Palermo and Catalan for the release of his nephew.

He said that the two men later agreed to forgive Rapin.

But as Herrera and his nephew were about to leave the outpost, the barangay tanods suddenly ran after the duo and shot Herrera in the right shoulder and left arm.

On the part of the barangay tanods, they claimed that Herrera barged inside the outpost and told his nephew to "run away."

The barangay officials said the policeman suddenly took out his gun and started firing at them. Both parties claimed they shot the other out of "self-defense."