2 cops charged with vendor’s murder

MANILA, Philippines - Two Quezon City policemen were charged with murder Friday in connection with the killing of a vendor who had filed criminal cases against them.

Police Officer 3 Allan Formilleza, 40; and PO2 Clifford Fagsao, 32, both of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Station 6, were identified by a witness as the men who shot dead Ramil Atibagos, 34, a kwek-kwek (quail egg) vendor residing in Old Balara, according to PO1 Julius Raz.

Atibagos was slain by motorcycle-riding gunmen while he was peddling his goods along Commonwealth Avenue on Sept. 7.

Raz said Atibagos’ older brother, Randy, was four yards away from the victim and recognized the two police officers. Randy only went to the police on Sept. 11 out of fear.

Randy claimed Fagsao got off the motorcycle and shot his brother with a handgun. Atibagos still tried running into the Megacom Hardware store while he was being shot at but Fagsao allegedly ran after the victim.

Randy told investigators that he knew the suspects because Atibagos and the victim’s wife, Girly, filed charges of robbery, illegal arrest, grave threats and physical injury against the policemen in July.

Randy said he had accompanied Atibagos and that they were confronted by Fagsao, who threatened his brother with harm unless the charges are withdrawn.

The two policemen, along with two others, allegedly barged into the house of Atibagos while the family was sleeping in response to grave threats reported by the victim’s half-brother, Alvin Duatin.

The suspects, who had their weapons drawn, had woken up Atibagos, his wife, and their son. questioned the arrest but was allegedly beaten up by the policemen.