‘Crime of passion’ eyed in death of Bulacan cop, girlfriend

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CITY OF MALOLOS—A 28-year-old policeman and his 27-year-old girlfriend were killed on Thursday, May 20, in what investigators believed was a crime of passion.

Citing witnesses, Cpl. Alberto Escartin, investigator at the Malolos police station in Bulacan province, said fellow Cpl. Clinton Paterno, who was assigned to the Malolos Police Community Precinct, and his girlfriend Maria Isabel Ganelo had a heated argument inside a car around 3 a.m.

Escartin said local village watchmen noticed that the car was swerving along the Mac-Arthur Highway in Barangay Caniogan this city and the couple was heard fighting.

When the watchmen approached the couple, Ganelo had told them that her boyfriend had a gun, prompting the witnesses to get help from the nearby police station.

Before the police could respond, the watchmen heard successive shots from the car.

Investigation showed that Paterno shot Ganelo twice in the head. Paterno later shot himself also in the head.

Ganelo was declared dead on arrival at the nearby Sacred Heart Hospital while Paterno died while being treated.

The two were allegedly drunk, police investigation also showed.

Police recovered a .9mm Glock, a Colt US Magnum .22 revolver, empty shells and personal belongings of the victims from the car.

JPV