Suspect in Tondo cop slay charged

Police filed murder charges against a jobless man for killing a policeman in Tondo four hours before the New Year.

The case against Dexter Gapetio, 24, of 511 Laurel street, Don Bosco, Tondo, Manila was submitted to on-duty Inquest Prosecutor Anabel Dollaga Magabilin.

Magabilin has yet to issue a recommendation on the case, said Senior Inspector Alejandro Yanquilling, chief of the Western Police District-Homicide Section.

Gapetio was linked to the killing of Police Officer 2 Nelson Gonzales, 34, of the Western Police District-Task Force Galugad last Dec. 31.

Gonzales was stabbed dead by two men in Tondo, Manila during a drinking bout in the neighborhood.

The slain lawman suffered multiple stab wounds in the chest inflicted by the assailants, whom the victim allegedly accused of stealing his scooter on Dec. 26.

During follow-up operations, police picked up four men, including Gapetio. He was the only one charged.

Yanquilling said prior to the killing, the victim was invited by a neighbor to join a drinking session in Barrio Magsaysay, Tondo.

Unknown to Gonzales, his assailants were apparently setting him up as the killers still harbored ill feelings against the lawman for accosting them over a stolen scooter last Dec. 26. The cop lost the vehicle while it was parked in front of the house of his live-in partner, also in Tondo.

"From the day the scooter was stolen, Gonzales had been accosting people in their area. Apparently, two of the suspects, who were among those he accused, took it against the victim and planned the attack, " Yanquilling said.

He said the suspects initially pretended to be witnesses to the killing, but police started to suspect that Gapetio had something to do with the crime because of blood from his shirt and slippers.

Gapetio was accompanied by Benjamin Doro, chairman of Barangay 112, Zone 9.

Meanwhile, in Valenzuela City, a jeepney barker was stabbed to death after a heated argument erupted between him and his companion over his attempts to mulct drinking money from a bus conductor yesterday morning.

Dead on the spot was the victim identified only as "Edward," with no permanent address. He died due to several stab wounds in the body while being taken to the Valenzuela District Hospital.

Police is now tracking down suspect Ruel Villamor, 19, of 125 Maisan Road, Valenzuela City, who went into hiding after the incident.

Investigation revealed that the suspect suddenly stabbed the victim at around 9:30 a.m. at the height of their argument. Prior to the incident, the victim and the suspect were seen having a drinking bout in front of the Royal Family Mall in Paso de Blas, Valenzuela City.

Already drunk but wanting more liquor, the victim went to a parked bus and demanded money from the conductor for another round of drink. This gesture irked the suspect who confronted the victim. When the victim would not be persuaded, the suspect drew a knife and stabbed the victim in drunken passion. The suspect later fled the scene. – With Nestor Etolle, Jerry Botial