Malabon’s top cop axed over shooting rampage

MANILA, Philippines — The police chief of Malabon was relieved from his post following a shooting rampage by an anti-narcotics officer in the city on Wednesday that left two people dead and another wounded, the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced yesterday.

Col. Jean Fajardo, PNP public information office chief, said Col. Jay Baybayan was sacked from his post based on the doctrine of command responsibility.

Also relieved was Lt. Jonas Gato, the commander of the drug enforcement unit where the suspect, Pat. Zenjo del Rosario, is assigned.

“The chief of police and the team leader of the drug enforcement unit were relieved to give way to an ongoing investigation,” Fajardo said in a news briefing.

Northern Police District director Brig. Gen. Rizalito Gapas told The STAR that he ordered the administrative relief of Baybayan and Gato, who will be moved to the NPD headquarters during the investigation.

Maj. Alfredo Agbuya Jr., Malabon’s assistant police chief for administration, will take over the city police as officer-in-charge.

Del Rosario was arrested after he broke into the house of a certain Alexis Gutierrez during a shooting rampage, hitting the victim and two others.

Gutierrez was pronounced dead on arrival in a hospital. The other fatality, Jay Apas, died at the scene while the third victim, Baby Tadiamon, was wounded.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group has filed complaints against Del Rosario for two counts of murder and one count of frustrated murder before the city prosecutor’s office.

Fajardo said the bullet casings found at the scene of the shooting came from Del Rosario’s handgun, based on the results of

cross-matching and ballistics examination.