If looks could kill

A 34-year-old police inspector and two other individuals are now in police custody after they beat up and killed a man who gave them a menacing stare in Pasig City Friday night.

Police identified the suspects as Inspector Reylin Defante, assigned with the Police Regional Office VI, resident of 178-E 18th Avenue, East Rembo, Makati City; barangay security officer David Taguib, 42; and businessman Francisco Tolentino, 35, both residents of Tileso street, Eusebio Avenue, Barangay Pinagbuhatan, Pasig.

The victim, who was identified as Victor Cruz, 21, a resident of Block 8, Kenneth Road, also in Pinagbuhatan, was pronounced dead on arrival from a gunshot wound in the upper right portion of his face at the Rizal Medical Center.

Police investigators disclosed that the allegedly drunken trio, led by Defante, started to beat up Cruz whom they accosted for staring at them when they crossed paths along Eusebio Avenue in front of a store at around 10:45 p.m. Friday.

In the heat of the mauling, Defante suddenly pulled out a caliber .45 pistol and shot the man in the face, apparently aiming for his eyes.

The trio surrendered to authorities after the incident. Homicide charges have been filed against them. – Rainier Allan Ronda