Patrol cop survives ambush try in Makati

A police officer survived an ambush attempt yesterday morning while patrolling a major thoroughfare at the central business district in Makati City.

Police Officer 1 Percival Mendoza, 25, assigned at the Police Community Precinct 6, said while he was riding his motorcycle along Ayala Avenue at around 9:30 a.m. when a van carrying two men overtook him.

At this point, one of the suspects opened the windows of the heavily-tinted gray Honda van and pointed a caliber .45 revolver at him, aiming for his head.

The policeman said he managed to elude the gunshots and even managed to fire back at the suspects’ vehicle, hitting the driver’s side panel.

Mendoza said he tried to go after the suspects, who immediately sped toward EDSA. But He was not able to sustain the pursuit.

According to prober PO2 Noel Pardinas, Mendoza was only able to recall part of the plate number. He said the first part of the license plate were the letters "WOW."

Pardinas also said the officer could not think of any possible reason for the ambush attempt.

"He (Mendoza) said he doesn’t have any enemies who could possibly perpetrate that kind of an attack," Pardinas said. "The suspects came from behind and overtook him. Obviously, the killing was intentional. We just don’t know the motive yet."

Police said that after Mendoza reported the incident, members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team were deployed to hunt down the suspects in the area. The operation did not produce any positive result.

Investigators said they would coordinate with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to identify the owner of the suspects’ vehicle.

When asked if the attack was just part of another plot to destabilize the peace and order situation in the metropolis, one investigator said: "We can’t conclude anything until we are through with the investigation."