Cop killed in Makati

Operatives of the Makati Police Department (MPD) arrested three suspected robbers, one of them a woman, for shooting a police officer dead yesterday morning.

The fatality was identified as PO3 Avelino Santos. He was declared dead upon arrival at the Makati Medical Center (MMC).

The arrested suspects were identified as Felix Ponting, 24, a construction worker from Binangonan, Rizal; Allan Capuno, 28, a taxi driver; and Roselyn Recablanca, 24, of Bacoor, Cavite.

MPD deputy chief Superintendent Efren Ysulat, in an interview with The Star, said the incident happened at around 10:20 a.m.

"Our men were conducting patrol operations under Oplan Sita when they chanced upon a green Hyundai Grace van (PZY-126) at the corner of Pasong Tamo and J.P. Rizal streets. Maraming sakay kaya sinita nila," he said.

Police said nine persons were inside the van.

Santos, who was on board a patrol car with two other policemen and a traffic enforcer identified as Rustico Garcia , tailed the van and approached it when it came to a halt.

The suspects, upon seeing him, open fired at Santos before alighting from their vehicle to make a quick escape.

Garcia was able to nab one of the suspects after he ran out of bullets and decided to slug it out with the policemen.

"Naubusan ng bala yung isa kaya nakipagharapan na lang kaya medyo may bugbog rin yung traffic enforcer natin from MAPSA," Ysulat explained.

Garcia was later taken to the Ospital ng Makati where he was examined for possible head and body injuries.

Two of the other suspects were collared by responding policemen, who searched a residential building where the suspects sought refuge.

Several gunshots were heard from the four-story establishment, but no one was hurt.

Earlier reports said the occupants of the van were planning to stage a pawnshop heist, but Ysulat said the information has yet to be verified.

"We don’t know if they were planning a robbery, but they were armed with handguns," he said.

The suspects will be charged with homicide, assault on persons of authority and illegal possession of firearms since at least five caliber. 38 revolvers were recovered from their vehicle.

Investigators are now checking the van and have coordinated with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to identify the owner.

Follow-up operations are being conducted to arrest the rest of the suspects.