Cop cradling grandson shot dead

A man wearing a bonnet shot dead yesterday a Quezon City policeman who was carrying his six-month-old grandson outside his house in Pasig City.

Before he died, SPO2 Ramon Borre, 53, of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) and a resident of Eusebio Avenue, Barangay Pinagbuhatan, told his wife that his gunman was Abi Palanas, his rival in the selling of lots in the said barangay.

Senior Superintendent Romeo Abaring, Pasig City police officer-in-charge ordered a manhunt against Palanas, who escaped on board a Honda XRM.

The officer’s grandson was unhurt.

Abaring said Borre was in civilian clothes and cradling his grandson outside his house when the gunman slowly approached him.

The officer failed to notice the man with the drawn gun. The suspect fired at close range.

Quoting witnesses, Abaring said Borre attempted to protect his grandson each time the suspect would aim and fire at him. "

Kaya hindi tinamaan ang bata kasi iniiwas ng pulis sa line of fire ng suspect," said Abaring, noting that Borre was not carrying his service firearm at the time.

The officer was still clutching his grandson when he fell to the ground bleeding.

He was hit four times, three in the body and one in the head.

Bystanders called his wife and relatives who rushed Borre to the Pasig City General Hospital, where he died while being operated on.

Inside the vehicle that took him to the hospital, Borre told his wife that though the gunman was wearing a bonnet, he was sure it was Palanas.

Abaring said both Borre and Palanas are engaged in selling rights of government lots in Barangay Pinagbuhatan.

"Humantong pa sa demandahan sa barangay ang away nila," the Pasig City police chief said.

Abaring said he dispatched his men to the residence of Palanas, but failed to find him.