Manhunt on for Pasig cop tagged in Manila shooting

MANILA, Philippines - A Pasig City policeman is the subject of a manhunt after he reportedly shot four of his neighbors at a wake in Sta. Ana, Manila Sunday.

But according to Inspector Armando Macaraeg, Police Officer 1 Sonny Merino had already sent surrender feelers and promised to give himself up at the homicide section of the Manila Police District anytime today.

In a report prepared by SPO1 Milbert Balinggan, the four victims – Apolonio Torres, 28; Eduardo Vidar, 28; Fernando Morales, 41; and Ruelio Matias, 29 – were playing cara y cruz, a coin game, at a wake along Estrada street when Merino shot at the group.

Torres later died at the Sta. Ana Hospital for gunshot wounds in the head, while his three companions are confined at the same hospital for bullet wounds in the head and body.

Merino reportedly fled after the shooting, bringing with him his service firearm, Balinggan said.

Macaraeg, meanwhile, told The STAR the policeman claimed self-defense when they talked over the phone yesterday afternoon. “PO1 Merino told me the victims were toughies in the area who have an ax to grind against him,” he said.

Merino reportedly was informed by neighbors that the four were waiting to ambush him at the street corner, Macaraeg said. “So when PO1 Merino met the victims at a street corner near the wake armed with knives, he said he had no other recourse but to start shooting at them,” Macaraeg said, adding it is the word of witnesses against Merino’s version of the incident.