Cop accused of killing fellow policeman in firecrackers raid faces charges, dismissal

MANILA, Philippines—The Lanao del Sur policeman arrested for killing a fellow police officer conducting a raid on illegal firecrackers in Quezon City Thursday will face criminal and administrative charges, Philippine National Police chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome said.

Speaking to reporters during a random inspection of illegal firecrackers in Bocaue, Bulacan Friday morning, Bartolome said that Police Officer 1 Faisal Mala would be charged with murder, frustrated murder and trade of illegal firecrackers.

Bartolome said he wanted Mala, who is also a bodyguard of  Lanao del Sur Representative Pangalian Balindong, dismissed from police service.

PO3 Bernardo Quintero was killed after being hit in the chest while conducting a crackdown on vendors of illegal firecrackers in Barangay North Fairview on Thursday. His colleague, PO2 Jessie Adajar, sustained injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Bartolome said that investigation showed the storage room in North Fairview, that was the subject of Thursday’s raid, is allegedly owned by Mala.

“Iyong bodega kasi si Mala ang may-ari at lumalabas na parang siya ang leader doon [The storage room is owned by Mala and it appears that he’s the leader there],” he said.

Bartolome said that police were still in search for at least three more men who were seen firing at the police officers.

The number of suspects, he said, has been based from the four different spent shells found in the area coming from riffles M-16 and carvin, and pistols caliber .45 and 9 millimeter, and from claims of some witnesses who saw the incident.

Bartolome said that a van loaded with illegal firecrackers was also recovered Thursday. The owner of the vehicle carrying a counterfeit plate number, however, is yet to be determined by authorities, he said.

After the inspection in Bulacan, the PNP chief visited the wake of Quintero in Caloocan to pay respect to the slain officer who died in service, and to assure the family of the victim that police will exert all efforts to bring justice to Quintero’s death.

He said that the bereaved family would receive financial assistance.

At least two mobile units carrying policemen arrived in Fairmont Subdivision at around 11 a.m. Thursday when armed men shot Quintero and Adajar while they were alighting the vehicle.

Quintero died in the hospital Thursday afternoon.