Cop slain, another hurt in 'cracker raid

MANILA, Philippines - A policeman was killed while another one was injured when “snipers” attacked a police team checking on a stall selling “illegal” firecrackers in Fairview, Quezon City yesterday morning.

The makeshift stall – set up on a vacant lot in Barangay North Fairview – is allegedly owned by a policeman, said Chief Inspector Rodel Marcelo, head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD).

 The alleged stall owner, Police Officer 1 Faisal Mala, told QCPD-CIDU investigators that he is detailed as a bodyguard of Lanao Del Sur Rep. Pangalian Balindong.

As of yesterday afternoon, none of the alleged gunmen at the illegal stall had been captured, according to Marcelo.

Police Officer 2 Bernardo Quintero was killed in the gunbattle. Reports have it that he was shot in the shoulder or the head. PO2 Jessie Adajar suffered a bullet wound in the leg and was brought to a hospital for treatment.

Both are from the QCPD Station 5, which covers the Fairview area. Station commander Superintendent Froilan Uy said the encounter happened at around 11 a.m.

Uy said the stall is “illegal” since it was selling firecrackers that were not from legitimate manufacturers. Apart from this, the stall was being used to store the firecrackers without the necessary permit.

Marcelo said the policemen raided the illegal stall earlier this week. According to the police official, the gunmen in yesterday’s attack might have prepared for the return of the policemen.

Marcelo said Quintero and Adajar, along with one or two companions, were “outnumbered” by the gunmen, who were estimated to be five to eight.

Marcelo said it was Quintero who first arrived in the area in a police car. “Immediately after he (Quintero) got off the vehicle, he was immediately shot at,” he said.

That was when Quintero called for back up and Adajar arrived. According to Marcelo, it was possible there were snipers in the gunbattle since the policemen “did not know where the shots were coming from.”

Aside from the alleged owner of the stall, policemen also took in a closed van carrying a load of firecrackers, Marcelo said.