NPD cop guns down neighbor

MANILA, Philippines - The Northern Police District (NPD) has launched a manhunt for one of its police officers who reportedly shot dead a neighbor in Caloocan City Sunday night.

Superintendent Florendo Quibuyen, Caloocan City acting police chief, identified the suspect as Police Officer 2 George Dacasin, assigned at the NPD personnel division.

Quibuyen said Dacasin allegedly shot Melchor Ramos, 42, his neighbor in Bisig ng Kabataan, Sangangdaan at around 10:15 p.m.

“There was a fiesta celebration in the area when the suspect’s niece engaged in a heated verbal argument with the victim. The cop intervened and reportedly shot his niece’s opponent,” Quibuyen told The STAR.

Ramos was hit in the head, neck and in the left arm and died while undergoing treatment at the President Diosdado Macapagal Memorial Medical Center at around 3 a.m. yesterday. Dacasin fled after the incident.

NPD director Chief Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao Jr. directed Quibuyen to turn over the investigation of the case to the Northern-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

Chief Inspector Ruben Lacuesta, Northern-CIDG chief, coordinated yesterday with Quibuyen for the conduct of a “balanced investigation.”

“We turned over the case to the CIDG to avoid the notion of a possible whitewash,” Quibuyen said.   – Pete Laude