Homicide rap filed vs Pampanga cop who shot man mistaken for robber

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—A complaint for homicide was filed on Monday against a policeman accused of shooting and killing a 29-year-old construction worker he allegedly mistook for a robber in Santa Rita town, Pampanga province.

The victim, Federico Pineda, had just celebrated his 7-year-old daughter’s birthday and was bringing an uncle home on his motorcycle when he was chased by Pat. Eframe Ramirez at 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 2.

Police said Pineda, who was in a white undershirt, was shot in the back but managed to run to his in-law’s house where he died.

His wife, Carla, filed the complaint against the policeman in the provincial prosecutor’s office here.

Carla said she sued for homicide—a bailable offense—as she was told the police had been responding to a robbery and hold-up incident at that time.

She had initially wanted to sue Ramirez for murder “to render justice” to Pineda, with whom she has two children. She said her husband was unarmed.