Retired lawman, Caloocan cop slain

MANILA, Philippines – A retired Tacloban City policeman and a Caloocan police officer were shot dead in two separate attacks yesterday.

Retired Senior Police Officer 1 Sadino Atenta, 58, was killed by three unidentified men in his house in Barangay Pasong Tamo, Quezon City.

His wife, Flordeliza, found his body when she arrived at the house at around 1 a.m., Police Officer 3 Jogene Hernandez said.

Atenta’s two children told police they woke up when their dog started barking and they heard gunshots from the first floor of their house at around 12:20 a.m.

Flordeliza said they have been living in the area for a long time and that her husband did not have enemies.

Investigators recovered shells, slugs and bullets for .45 caliber and 9mm pistols.

Meanwhile, Senior Police Officer 3 Carmelito Silvino, assigned to the city’s traffic division in north Caloocan, was shot in the head while tending his stall at the Bagong Silang Market at past noon.

City police chief Senior Superintendent Bartolome Bustamante said Silvino had a quarrel with several ambulant vendors a few days before Christmas last year “because they were blocking his stall.”

Silvino allegedly kicked the merchandise sold by the vendors, Bustamante said, adding that “a scuffle led to a physical confrontation with the vendors, who are members of an ethnic group.”

Caloocan Mayor Oscar Malapitan offered P300,000 for information that would lead to the arrest of Silvino’s killer. – Robertzon Ramirez, Rey Galupo