Cop arrested for shooting trike driver

MANILA, Philippines - A policeman was arrested for reportedly shooting a tricycle driver following a traffic altercation in Malabon City Thursday morning.

Patrick Sevilla, 28, was driving a motorcycle along M.H. del Pilar street at around 8:30 a.m. when he collided with Police Officer 2 Roderick Maniti, who was riding a bicycle. Sevilla told police he tried to help the policeman, but Maniti punched him and asked him where he lived.

Maniti, who is assigned at the Regional Headquarters Support Group of the National Capital Region Police Office in Camp Bagong Diwa, reportedly also threatened Sevilla.

Upon reaching home, Sevilla told his family about the incident and asked two of his friends – Joel Ilagan and Edward Lazaro – to accompany him to the police station to report it.

When the three men passed the place where the collision occurred, Maniti arrived in a gray Toyota Innova and reportedly shot Sevilla four times.

Though wounded, Sevilla and Ilagan managed to run away and proceed to the Tondo Medical Center. Lazaro went to the Malabon Police Community Precinct 1 and reported the traffic altercation and the subsequent attack.

Police officers arrested Maniti and confiscated his gun and nine bullets. He was charged before the city prosecutor’s office after Sevilla identified him as the man who shot him.