QCPD orders thorough probe into killing of cop

PO1 Crispin Cartagenas, 41,  lies on the pavement shortly after being shot on Kamias Road near the corner of Kalayaan Avenue in Quezon City. (Contributed photo)

MANILA, Philippines — Chief Supt. Joselito Esquivel Jr., director of the Quezon City Police District, on Saturday ordered a “thorough investigation” into the killing of a police officer.

Esquivel identified the victim as PO1 Crispin Cartagenas, 41, who was assigned at the QCPD Headquarters Support Unit.

At the time of the incident, however, it was not yet established that the man was a police officer.

READ: Man shot in front of fast food restaurant in Quezon City

A witness, Purisima Buenaventura, related what she saw of the shooting, which took place on Friday, at around 5:45 p.m.

Buenaventura said she was waiting for a ride in front of a fast food store on Kamias Road near the corner Kalayaan Avenue, Barangay Pinyahan.

She the police officer board a motorcycle.

Two unidentified men, also on a motorcycle, followed Cartagenas.

The man riding on the back pulled out a handgun and fired several shots at Cartagenas.

The two men then fled towards Edsa.

A responding team, composed of members of the QC Disaster Risk Reduction and Managment Office and Kamuning Police Station (PS 10), took the officer to the East Avenue Medical Center, where he declared dead on arrival at 6:17 p.m.

Seized at the crime scene were four spent shells from a .45-caliber pistol, a fired jacket slug, and a bullet lead core fragment of unknown caliber. /atm