Cop robbed, shot inside own van

SAN CARLOS CITY, Pangasinan –A policeman from this city was shot dead inside his own van in Barangay Legazpi, San Manuel, Tarlac.

He was also believed to    have been robbed of at least P500,000 in cash.

Superintendent Johnny Bacbac, city police chief, told The STAR that the victim was identified as SPO3 Gerardo Macaraeg, 49,  warrant officer of the city police station.

Macaraeg, who was with three other persons from Dagupan, was on his way to Manila to buy a another vehicle in his white Starex van on the day he was murdered.

 But Macaraeg’s body was found dead inside his own van Friday morning. He sustained two gunshot wounds – one in his ear and another in his right breast.

Scene of the Crime Operatives of the San Manuel, Tarlac police station found one empty shell of .45 caliber and the clutch bag of the victim,which was opened by his assassins; its contents, which include arrest warrants, were found scattered inside the van.

Bacbac said the local police knew the name of one of the companions of Macaraeg based on his last text message to his relatives and they are now trying to locate the person in coordination with the Dagupan City police station for questioning.

Macaraeg’s three companions abandoned him inside the van and fled. Bacbac said it is possible that the three companions of the victim are behind the robbery and murder.