QCPD won't surrender cop tagged in brawl

MANILA, Philippines - An official of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said yesterday he would not surrender a member of his unit who allegedly killed a fellow policeman in a street brawl in Caloocan City last Sunday.

But QCPD director Chief Superintendent Elmo San Diego said he would have Police Officer 1 Estephen Hernandez investigated by the Caloocan City police whose member was killed in the fight.

San Diego stressed that Hernandez is also a complainant against slain cop, Police Officer 2 Rex Azusano of the Caloocan City police station Tactical Operation Center and would not be arrested.

San Diego said they would have to wait for Hernandez to be released from the hospital where he is confined for a gunshot wound he sustained during the fight with Azusano.

Hernandez claimed he was driving his motorcycle last weekend when the motorcycle carrying Azusano and companion John Schmidt sideswiped him.

He said both men appeared drunk and the angry Azusano whipped him with a pistol in the head and shot him, prompting him to fire back.

But initial reports from the Caloocan City police claimed Azusano and Schmidt were on their way home when they passed by a commotion on MacArthur Highway.

Azusano reportedly introduced himself to one of the troublemakers, allegedly Hernandez, to pacify those around, but the latter purportedly shot and killed him.

Schmidt was also hit in the back but survived.

The then wounded Azusano reportedly managed to fire back at Hernandez, wounding the QCPD cop.

The Caloocan City police will investigate the incident as it occurred within its area of jurisdiction.      – Reinir Padua