Cop serving arrest warrant killed in Iloilo City

MANILA, Philippines – A police officer serving an arrest warrant in Iloilo City Monday was shot dead by the suspect he was supposed to arrest, Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr., spokesman for the Philippine National Police, said.

Cruz said that Police Officer 1 Angelo Catiponan, 31, went to arrest Jeffrey Cason, 38, for charges of frustrated homicide around 3 p.m. in Buntatala village in Jaro district but was instead mobbed by Cason and his relatives Wilfredo Cason, 62; Jerry Bordon, 38; and an alias Gabot Jacusalem.

Jeffrey and Wilfredo snatched Catiponan’s service firearm and repeatedly shot the policeman. Catiponan was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Responding police officers nabbed the Casons as well as Bordon but the fourth suspect alias Gabot Jacusalem escaped, said Cruz.

The PNP spokesman said that initial investigation indicated that the four suspects were drunk when they attacked Catiponan.

He said that Iloilo City Police Station 3, where Catiponan had been assigned, was conducting a follow-up operation to catch the slain police officer’s fourth attacker.