Manila cop shot dead

TANAUAN CITY, Batangas — A Manila policeman and a mechanic were killed by three gunmen while inside a car shop here yesterday morning, police said.

Superintendent Francisco Rodriguez, Tanauan City police chief, identified the victim as SPO3 Avelino Manalo 48, a member of the Western Police District and a resident of Bantay Bata this city.

The mechanic, who was a victim of stray bullets, was identified by police as Aldrin Solis, 16, also a student, who sustained bullet wounds in the back and died at CP Reyes Hospital.

Police said, at around 8:15 yesterday morning a silver colored Honda Civic car without license plates suddenly emerged from nowhere and pumped bullets into the policeman and hit the mechanic by accident. The police recovered 52 empty shells from an Armalite M-16 rifle at the scene. Witnesses said the gunmen were wearing fatigue uniforms.

Personal grudge was being eyed by the police in their initial investigation after the suspects fled. — Arnell Ozaeta, Ed Amoroso