The gunmen in the ambush on a police team of a stall selling illegal firecrackers in Quezon City were in “combat position” and armed with high-powered guns when they fired on the police on Thursday, said Chief Insp. Rodelio Marcelo, head of the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit.
Marcelo said they recovered slugs from an armalite, a carbine rifle, and caliber 40mm and 9mm handguns from the crime scene on Adrian Street in Fairmont Subdivision, North Fairview.
He said that the area, where the stall stands, appeared to be on a dead end street, with unused huge concrete drainage pipes positioned on the road.
Cover for gunmen
This may have served as cover for the gunmen, Marcelo said, adding there was also a basketball court where some of the suspects could have hidden themselves.
“The assailants were really in a combat position,” he noted.
Around eight men are believed to have been behind the shooting, which killed PO2 Bernard Quintero and wounded PO2 Jessie Adajar, both of the Fairview police station.
The CIDU has in its custody PO1 Faisal Mala, the alleged owner of the stall.
The chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday ordered the immediate filing of criminal and administrative charges against Mala, a Lanao-based policeman.
“I want him dismissed,” Director General Nicanor A. Bartolome said of Mala, an officer assigned at the Lanao del Sur provincial police office, reportedly the owner of the stall.
“Based on the testimonies of those in the area, we have three aliases of those who staged the attack,” Marcelo said.
Mala has been tagged by at least three policemen as having been among those who fired shots at Quintero’s group.
Mala, however, denied having fired shots at the policemen and also claimed that he did not know the gunmen.
Police believe that the suspects may have prepared for the return of the policemen who had been confiscating illegal firecrackers in the area.
The CIDU is preparing charges of murder and frustrated murder against Mala and the other still unidentified suspects.
Other violations
They are also facing charges for violating Republic Act 7183, or the law regulating the manufacture, sale, distribution and use of firecrackers.
On Friday, Bartolome visited Quintero’s wake and vowed to seek justice for his death.
He also pledged financial assistance to the slain policeman’s family.
“A manhunt is now ongoing for at least three other suspects,” Bartolome said.