In a report to Chief Superintendent Prospero Noble Jr., regional police director, Superintendent Rolando Bustos, Calamba police chief, identified the slain policemen as SPO2 Rogelio Bato, 51, and SPO3 Monico Gacosta, of the Las Piñas and Calamba police, respectively.
According to Bustos, Bato and PO3 Eliazer Camiling, a colleague from the Las Piñas police, had coordinated with their Calamba counterparts to track down a suspect in a recent hit-and-run vehicular accident in Las Piñas.
Bustos assigned Gacosta to accompany the two Las Piñas policemen in conducting a surveillance operation in Barangay 3 where the suspect was reportedly hiding.
Reports said Gacosta volunteered to help Bato since they knew each other since their days in the Philippine Constabulary.
However, while the three were on their way to Barangay 3, they noticed a commotion in a computer shop along Burgos street in Barangay 1.
Unknown to the policemen, at least three men armed with short firearms were robbing the computer shop.
When the lawmen approached the establishment to check the commotion, they were fired upon. Bato was shot in the head and died on the spot, while Gacosta, who was hit in the body, died while being treated at the Calamba Medical Center. Camiling was unharmed.
The robbers escaped on board a motorcycle. Police have launched a manhunt for them. — With Ed Amoroso