Off-duty cop kills 2 brods

MANILA, Philippines - Claiming self-defense, an off-duty Manila policeman shot dead two brothers who were reportedly creating trouble in Tondo Sunday night.

Police Officer 2 Jason Ibasco immediately surrendered his service firearm, a .9 mm caliber pistol, to authorities after the incident. “I was compelled to shoot at the brothers, who were both armed, when they tried to gang up on me, otherwise I could be a dead cop by now,” Ibasco told reporters.

Reynante Montero, 17, and his brother Lester, 19, were known as toughies at the Permanent Housing Unit in Vitas, Tondo, according to neighbors who went to the Manila Police District headquarters yesterday to show their support for Ibasco.

Investigation conducted by SPO1 Charles John Duran showed the Montero brothers earlier figured in a quarrel with one of the building’s tenants, a certain Lawrence Dalu. Armed with an improvised shotgun and knives, the brothers and their gang mates reportedly waited for Dalu to come out of his unit.

Dalu’s family sought the assistance of Ibasco, who was their neighbor, as they were about to bring a sick child to the hospital and were afraid the brothers would attack them. Ibasco escorted the family and the sick child until they were able to flag down a taxicab to take them to the hospital.

On his way back to his unit, Ibasco was reportedly confronted by the furious brothers. Ibasco said he chose to ignore them but they attacked him. Ibasco said he managed to draw his service firearm and shoot at the brothers.

Reynante was killed on the spot, while Lester, who was armed with “sumpak” or an improvised shotgun, died at the Tondo Medical Center.