Cop granted bail after attack on cop in drugs

ILOILO CITY—The policeman tagged as the gunman of what appeared to be a vigilante group targeting drug suspects has been granted bail after a failed attempt to gun down a fellow policeman allegedly involved in the narcotics trade.

The Iloilo Regional Trial Court granted a P140,000 bail to PO2 Melvin Mocorro, who is still in a hospital recuperating from wounds suffered during his alleged attempt to kill PO1 Dorben Acap, a policeman tagged as a drug suspect.

Senior Supt. Henry Binas, Iloilo City police chief, said Mocorro was under heavy guard but could leave the hospital anytime.

Binas said police had no legal ground to further detain Mocorro.

ARMM cop

Administrative proceedings against Mocorro would be handled by the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) police force where Mocorro is assigned.

Mocorro was arrested by Iloilo police last week after he was identified as the gunman in the attack on Acap, who survived and is now in a hospital, too.

Two unidentified suspects were with Mocorro in the attack.

Acap suffered a bullet wound in the shoulder when three men shot him as he drove his car on the national highway in the village of Dulonan in Arevalo District here on June 26.

Acap was able to fire back and hit one of the assailants, whom Acap later identified as Mocorro.

Acap told investigators he was able to identify Mocorro when Mocorro fell from the motorcycle he was riding and lost his helmet.

Probing motive

Although the attack on Acap appeared to be drug-related, investigators said they were still determining the motive.

It came just days after unidentified suspects shot dead Remia Prevendido-Gregori, sister of slain alleged Western Visayas drug kingpin Richard Prevendido and village chair.

Gregori, who had been accused of involvement in drugs, too, was shot in the family-owned beach resort in San Joaquin town, Iloilo province.