Vendor kills cop in Baclaran sidewalk clearing operation

MANILA, Philippines - A Parañaque City policeman who joined Wednesday’s clearing operation near Baclaran Church was shot and killed, allegedly by an ambulant vendor.

Police Officer 3 Mapilindo Prades died while undergoing treatment at the San Juan de Dios Hospital due to a gunshot wound in the back of the head, according to Parañaque police chief Senior Superintendent Nestor Pastoral.

He declined to identify the suspect, who is now the subject of a manhunt. Mayor Florencio Bernabe is offering P200,000 to any person who can provide information that will lead to the capture of Prades’ killer.

Pastoral said Prades, a member of the Task Force Baclaran assigned to remove street vendors around Redemptorist Road, was about to go home when the suspect chased and shot him at around 7:45 p.m.

Investigators could not identify the type of handgun used against the victim because they could not find the slug.

Pastoral warned vendors that there will be no letup in the clearing operations “especially after what happened” to Prades.