Ex-Army man kills fixer during entrapment

MANILA, Philippines - A former Philippine Army soldier shot dead an alleged fixer during an entrapment set up by the Quezon City Police District yesterday morning.

Security guard Melodio Tindoi was supposed to hand over marked money to the woman he said had been demanding money from him in exchange for his reinstatement in the military, said Quezon City Police District director Senior Superintendent Richard Albano.

Tindoi, in a complaint he filed Sunday against the woman he identified as “Capt. Tugade,” said she had received P10,000 from him but still demanded more money.

At around 9 a.m. yesterday, the woman visited Tindoi at his post at a bus terminal. Tindoi shot her repeatedly and fled, leaving behind his .38 caliber revolver with a fellow guard.

Superintendent Ronnie Montejo, commander of the QCPD Station 7, said Tindoi “told a fellow guard (before fleeing) that he blacked out.”

A military identification card found at the scene bore the name Lt. Christine Tugade, but investigators suspect the card may be fake, Montejo said.