2 more men face raps for cop’s death

Murder charges will also be filed against the two relatives of a policeman who allegedly shot and killed a fellow police officer during a crackdown on vendors of illegal firecrackers in Quezon City last month, a police official said.

Chief Inspector Rodel Marcelo, head of the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, identified the two as Teddy Mala and Sangcad Batalyon.

Marcelo said that based on witnesses’ testimonies, the two men were seen firing at policemen who conducted the raid on a store selling illegal firecrackers on Regalado Street in Fairview, Quezon City.

Mala is the younger brother of Police Officer 1 Faizal Mala, the alleged leader of the group operating the store selling unauthorized pyrotechnics.

Marcelo said that the Malas and Batalyon would be charged with murder and frustrated murder in connection with the death of PO3 Bernard Quintero, one of the operatives who conducted the raid.

They also face charges of illegal possession of firearms and violation of the firecrackers law.

The operation also left another policeman, PO3 Jessie Adajar, wounded.

“We have witnesses stating that the pair also fired shots at the approaching policemen,” Marcelo said.

PO1 Mala was arrested after witnesses tagged him as one of those who fired shots at the raiding team.

He later tested positive for gunpowder burns.