Slain Manila policeman laid to rest

MANILA, Philippines - A Manila policeman who was shot dead allegedly by a reported criminology student was buried at the Manila North Cemetery yesterday morning.

Police Officer 1 Ramuel de la Cruz, who was assigned to a police community precinct under the Manila Police District Station 2, was killed in Tutuban on Feb. 25.

Necrological services were earlier held at the Manila Police District (MPD) headquarters, where the wake was held. De la Cruz’s remains were brought to the cemetery at around 9 a.m. yesterday.

His alleged killer, Freddieric Gelito, 23, was arrested the same day and brought to the MPD Station 11 in Meisic. About an hour later, when Gelito was brought to the station for a medical checkup, he reportedly grabbed PO3 Marlon Eusebio’s gun.

The other policeman escorting Gelito, SPO1 Nicanor Zablan, shot the suspect, killing him.

Meanwhile, an official of the Philippine College of Criminology (PCCR) denied that Gelito had been a student at the school, contrary to earlier reports.

“He was never a student of PCCR,” corporate secretary and legal counsel Ramil Gabao told The STAR.

He said an examination of school records would show the alleged “cop-killer” is not listed as one of the bona fide enrolled students of PCCR.

Investigator PO3 Jupiter Tajonera, however, told reporters that Gelito was a student of the PCCR, based on the results of the initial investigation they made after the incident occurred.

Tajonera said Gelito’s parents told police their son was enrolled in PCCR but dropped out after one semester.