Cop slain in Caloocan

MANILA, Philippines - A policeman was shot dead in Bagong Barrio, Caloocan City yesterday morning.

Senior Police Officer 1 Rodrigo Antonio was driving his motorcycle to the Bagong Barrio police community precinct when an unidentified motorcycle-riding man shot him twice shortly before 9 a.m.

The assailant shot Antonio repeatedly as the policeman fell to the pavement.

Antonio had just arrived home from work when he decided to go back to the precinct to get his helmet, which he forgot to bring with him, city police investigation head Chief Inspector Ilustre Mendoza said.

He added that Antonio never had a chance to fire back as the first gunshots were fatal.

“The gunman made sure he was dead before fleeing,” he told The STAR.

Superintendent Ferdinand del Rosario, assistant chief of police for administration, said the attack may be job-related.

Second victim

Antonio is the second policeman slain in Bagong Barrio in more than a month.

Senior Police Officer 1 Armando Garcia was walking along Panday Pira street shortly before 10 p.m. on July 31 when an unidentified man who had apparently been waiting for him for more than an hour shot him in the head and continued to shoot at him while he was lying on the pavement. 

The victim sustained 14 gunshot wounds and died at the scene. After the shooting, the gunman sped away on a motorcycle as residents ran in different directions.

Garcia’s killing remains unsolved.