Trike driver shoots 2 cops

The police are searching for a 23-year-old tricycle driver who allegedly shot and killed a police officer and wounded another in Makati City shortly after midnight yesterday.

The fatality was identified as Police Officer 1 Vicente Saldavia, 26, of the National Capital Region Police Office’s (NCRPO) Regional Special Action Unit (RSAU) while his colleague, PO1 Edgar Caranguian, 28, is undergoing treatment at the Ospital ng Makati.

PO3 Jason David said in a report that the shooting happened at around 1 a.m. at a store along Target Range Boulevard. The victims were seen having an argument with suspect Reynaldo Tullas when the latter’s relatives and neighbors arrived and threw stones at the policemen.

During the commotion, Tullas was allegedly able to grab Caranguian’s service firearm, which he used to shoot both police officers.

David said Tullas and his companions, who are now the subject of manhunt operations, fled the crime scene and took the gun with them.

Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) personnel recovered a second firearm, a 9.mm Pietro Berette, and six shells near the victim’s body.

Investigators are now trying to find witnesses who can shed more light on the incident and provide information on the whereabouts of the suspects.

– Michael Punongbayan