Drunk lawman shot dead by cop-wife

MANILA, Philippines - A drunk policeman was shot dead by his wife, also a police officer, when he started beating her in front of their house in Quezon City at past midnight yesterday.

Police Officer 1 George Verbo died upon arrival at a hospital due to a gunshot wound in the abdomen. His wife, PO1 Gemalyn Verbo, was taken into custody following the incident. The couple had been married 10 years.

George had been suspended after he was accused – along with two other policemen from the Quezon City Police District Station 5 and two police informants – of arresting and extorting money from a man last March.

Just before midnight yesterday, George was drinking liquor with his brother-in-law, Gaylord Maborang, Police Officer 3 Erickson Isidro said.

When Gemalyn confronted her husband, it resulted in a heated argument, during which George tried taking his wife’s service firearm from her handbag. She managed to keep the handgun away from him       and went outside their house.

George followed Gemalyn and started attacking her. Their household helper told police she tried to stop the fight but George punched her in the face.

George managed to pull out the gun from Gemalyn’s handbag, prompting the policewoman to grapple for possession of the gun. The firearm went off and hit George. Gemalyn asked her brother’s help to bring George to the hospital.