Cop shot while responding to distress call

MANILA, Philippines - A maritime policeman was shot when he responded to a distress call in Navotas City Saturday night, but was able to gun down his alleged attacker.

Nancy Pagundanao, 32, of Market 3 at the Navotas Fish Port Complex, sought the assistance of the maritime police at around 10:30 p.m., claiming her husband, Allan, was drunk and had gone berserk. She said Allan was armed with a bolo and threatened to hurt her and their neighbors.

Police Officer 3 Jonas Himalay, 43, with Police Officer 2 Richard Denopol and Police Officer 1 Marlon Miole, went to Market 3 to verify the report.

As the police vehicle approached the area, Allan was seen drinking with three other men. He and his companions fled in different directions.

When the police officers alighted from their car, a man at the second floor of the Pagundanaos’ house shot at them.

“Himalay was hit in the left chest but was able to fire back at the gunman using his .45 caliber pistol,” Senior Inspector Joseph Sapigao, duty officer of the Navotas City Fish Port Complex maritime police office, said.

The two other police officers rushed up the house and saw the wounded Jhay-R Gracio, 19, with an improvised shotgun near him.

Himalay and Gracio were brought to the Tondo Medical Center for treatment but Gracio died due to a bullet wound in the body, Sapigao said.

Sapigao said Himalay was transferred to the Chinese General Hospital, where he remains confined. “The wound is serious but his condition remained stable according to the doctors,” he told The STAR.