SPO1 Charlito Corpuz: The ultimate policeman

It is comforting to know that we have policemen like Charlito Corpuz who shot it out with three hold-up men in a bus and managed to kill all three despite the fact that he had been shot in the right arm. The ultimate test for any soldier or policeman is how he behaves against a much larger force and when the situation is a matter of life or death. That is what Charlito Corpuz faced and he came through with flying colors. He is at the moment recovering from the shot he absorbed at the Victor Potenciano Hospital.

Corpuz boarded a JMK-Jojo airconditioned bus on his way to police headquarters. When the bus stopped along EDSA right in front of Camp Crame, three men boarded and one sat right the driver at the seat reserved for the conductor. The other sat at the back of the driver and the third sat in the middle of the last row. When the bus was near the crossing of EDSA-Shaw, the man seated beside the driver drew a gun, pointed it right at the driver’s head and said, "Sumunod ka sa gusto ko kung hindi ay sasamain ka. Daan mo sa ilalim!" The man seated at the back of the driver announced the hold-up. "Walang kikilos nang masama! Walang lilingon! Walang gagalaw! Walang titingin! Yuko! Yuko!" Wasting no time, Corpuz drew his .45 caliber pistol and shot the man beside the driver. Then he fired at the man seated on the third row. The man immediately returned fire and managed to hit Corpuz on the right hand. Corpuz immediately shifted his pistol to his left hand and after an exchange of fire managed to hit the second holdupper. Then he engaged the third holdupper and also managed to hit him with a fatal shot. A passenger named Rolando Gaddi was hit on the left foot. He was rushed to hospital with Corpuz. The slug in Corpuz’s arm will require special surgery, but he is in a stable condition.

If there is anything the incident proved, it is that we have policemen that are not only models of courage and gallantry, but are very well trained. You cannot shoot it out with three gunmen in a crowded bus and not only survive but manage to kill your three armed opponents unless you are a crack shot.

And there are two types of crack shots. One is a crackshot who is good when performing in a firing range. The other is one who can hit his target even in a crowded bus in motion. In the case of Corpuz, he is even a crackshot with either hand.

Atty. Ericson T. Velasquez, superintendent of Corpuz has recommended that Corpus be meritoriously promoted to the next higher rank in permanent status. He deserves much more than that. He should get the highest military award given for courage and gallantry in action.

We should have a section to preserve the memory of outstanding soldiers and policeman who have literally risked their lives to protect the public. The most effective way to teach any lesson is by example. Corpuz is a great example of courage and gallantry in action.