Delivery driver helping cops shot dead by fleeing suspects

Quezon City map

MANILA, Philippines — A delivery driver who went out of his way to help police chase two armed men was killed when he was shot by the fleeing suspects.

John Dale Salazar had offered his motorcycle to the pursuing officers, according to Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre, Quezon City Police District director. No other details were given about the victim.

Torre said his men were manning a checkpoint as part of Oplan Sita around 9:45 a.m. on Dec. 22 in Barangay Bahay Toro, Project 8, when they flagged down a black sport utility vehicle.

Two men, later identified as Richmond Dalisay and Gabriel Tamondong, got off the car and fled, prompting the police to give chase.

Salazar, who happened to be nearby, offered his vehicle. As the police were getting on the motorcycle, the suspects fired at them and hit Salazar who was killed.

The officers fired back, but the suspects managed to escape by forcibly taking another rider’s motorcycle.

Suspects tracked

Using information from witnesses and footage taken by closed-circuit television cameras, police were able to identify the suspects and track their location.

Dalisay, who was allegedly a hired killer, was found hiding at Sitio Ambuklao in Barangay Baesa on Dec. 24.

A GMA TV report said that instead of surrendering, he fired at the police, who shot and killed him.

Tamondong, on the other hand, was arrested after a brief chase in the same area.

Police said they would conduct a ballistic examination to identify the owner of the firearm found on one of the suspects.

An investigation is underway to determine what charges should be filed against Tamondong.