Ex-policeman faces multiple charges

A former policeman being sought for the death of a pedicab driver was found to have been dismissed from the service on car theft charges. In addition, he is also facing charges in connection with the murder of another lawman.

Former Police Officer 2 Rommel Fortuno is being sought by the police for the killing of Kim Tanyog, 25, a pedicab driver in Tondo, Manila, on Saturday evening. Tanyog was chatting with a relative inside his pedicab parked at the corner of Katamtaman Street when Fortuno, who was driving a motorcycle, stopped, alighted from his vehicle and shot the victim.

Tanyog was rushed to Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center where he was declared dead on arrival due to four gunshot wounds, said Senior PO2 Ronald Gallo of the Manila Police District homicide section. Witnesses to the shooting identified Fortuno although they refused to give written statements to the police “for fear of reprisal,” said Gallo.

Fortuno was dismissed from the service years ago when he was linked to a motorcycle robbery syndicate in Caloocan. He is also wanted for shooting dead in February SPO1 Rodrigo Llagas Cortez Jr. of the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group, allegedly over a woman.—Jaymee T. Gamil