Policeman faces raps for village chief's attacks

MANILA, Philippines - A Caloocan City barangay chairman filed charges Thursday against a Camp Crame police officer for the alleged strafing of his house and the slay attempts on two other barangay officials last week.

Superintendent Mario Dapillosa, Northern Police District-District Investigation and Detection Management Division chief, said that Emmanuel Cruz, chairman of Barangay 79, Caloocan City filed charges of attempted murders and attempted homicide against PO2 Mocel Quilingen with two John Does. “Chairman Cruz directly filed with the Caloocan City prosecutor’s office the charges against Quilingen and the two others Thursday afternoon,” Dapillosa said.

Quilingen is assigned with the Camp Crame Public Safety and Protection Office, which is presently detailed as a close-in bodyguard of a local official in the northern part of Metro Manila.

On the night of April 15, armed men reportedly strafed the house of Cruz at 79 Nangka street in Barangay 79 but nobody was hurt. The following night, another group of armed men also fired at barangay watchman Carlos Lopez who was about to enter Cruz’s house at around 8 p.m., police said. Lopez was unhurt as he docked for cover.

The suspects also threatened to shoot Joel de los Reyes, a barangay treasurer, who reportedly witnessed the shooting. Dapillosa said that according to Cruz at least six witnesses were able to identify Quilingen as one of the alleged gunmen.

Police recovered shells and slugs for. 38 caliber revolver and .45 and 9mm pistols at the crime scene. Examination on the evidence recovered showed they came from the same firearms, an indication that the perpetrators could be the same group.

On April 14, unidentified men also reportedly burned Cruz’s Toyota Hilux parked in front of his house. The local fire bureau is yet to determine whether the case was arson or accidental. 

NPD director Chief Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao Jr. directed Dapillosa to provide Cruz with “area security” using the District Mobile Force. Pagdilao also tapped the Northern-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in investigating the case for the incident involved an elected public official.