Two cops gunned down in San Juan; suspect caught after car chase

Two police officers were gunned down last Monday by a 36-year-old man they are about to arrest in San Juan.

The suspect, Gerry Panaguiton, of 578 Nueve de Pebrero, Mandaluyong City, took off in the patrol car of the officers after the shooting, but was cornered after a brief chase, said Chief Superintendent Rolando Sacramento, director of the Eastern Police District (EPD).

Sacramento said Panaguiton is now detained at the San Juan police station facing two counts of murder.

He identified the two slain cops as PO3 Reynaldo Arceno and PO1 Joseph Alcoran, both of the Police Community Precinct 1 in Greenhills.

Alcoran sustained gunshot wounds in the left chest and shoulder while Arceno was shot in the head and died instantly.

A traffic enforcer, Arsenio Santos Jr., rushed Alcoran to the Polymedic Hospital but the cop was declared dead on arrival.

Chief Inspector Bernard Banac, PCP1 commander, said the two cops were on board mobile car 425 near the corner of EDSA and Connecticut street in Greenhills when they were flagged down by the manager of a Petron gasoline station at about 6:28 p.m.

The manager reported that they noticed a man suspiciously roaming the area.

Arceno rushed out of the vehicle and approached Panaguiton, who was on the other side of the street.

As Arceno was about to put the handcuffs on Panaguiton after identifying himself as a policeman, the suspect took out a caliber .38 revolver and opened fire. Arceno was not able to drew his service firearm.

Alcoran, who was standing near the police car, grabbed his firearm and fired back at Panaguiton, but missed. The suspect fired another shot, finding its mark.

Panaguiton surrendered peacefully following a brief chase by responding policemen.– Non Alquitran