An officer of the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) was shot dead in Cagayan De Oro City, two days after he refused a bribe from two violators who offered money to recover their impounded cars.
SPO1 Sergs de Constantine Maceren died on Wednesday from a bullet wound in his chest from an M4 assault carbine fired by the driver of a vehicle whom he accosted for having an improvised plate in Upper Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City.
A report from the PNP-HPG on Friday said Maceren was with SPO2 Lyndie Baltazar and PO1 Joel Laurente of the Special Operations Team of the Regional Highway Patrol Unit-10 when they flagged down a Hyundai Accent sedan with an improvised plate.
Police said the driver later identified as Abdulrahim Batawi Adilao also shot the two other policemen. The lawmen returned fire and killed the suspect on the spot. The injured officers received medical treatment.
Two days before his death, Maceren filed charges against a certain Gary Sabrido Ranalan and Franklin Jhon Cabural Ramos, whose respective vehicles were impounded for delinquent registration and unauthorized plates.
Police said the two allegedly offered a bribe to Maceren but he refused to accept the cash.
PNP-HPG Director Roberto Fajardo said the police are now conducting an investigation on the background of the gunman and to trace if he has any relation with the two violators accosted by Maceren.
He said the suspect’s firearm and vehicle have been confiscated for forensic examination.
According to Fajardo, the PNP-HPG has provided assistance to Maceren’s family.
He said Maceren, whom he described as an “exceptional police officer,” would be given funeral honors for a fallen hero.