CEBU CITY, Philipines—A policeman was beaten up and then shot dead with his own gun two men who took his helmet past 2 a.m. on Saturday on P. Del Rosario Street in Cebu City.
Police Officer 2 Gerlito Estremos, who was in his 30s and was member of the Fuente police station, died on the spot. He was shot in the face, with the bullet exiting in the back of his head, police said.
Police Officer 3 Allan Vallejo, Estremos’ colleague at the Fuente police station, said Estremos had been made a team leader just a week ago after serving as a desk officer for over a year.
Estremos’ 24-hour duty was from 8 a.m. on Friday until 8 a.m. on Saturday.
At 12:05 a.m. on Saturday, Estremos and another policeman patrolled their assigned area on separate motorcycles because their patrol car was under repair.
But Estremos’ companion went back to the police station while Estremos proceeded to R. Landon Street.
While Estremos parked his motorcycle, a man took his helmet and sped off on a motorcycle. The policeman immediately rode on his motorcycle and chased the thief.
Vallejo said that upon reaching P. Del Rosario Street, Estremos saw the same motorcycle he was chasing but this time, there were two men on board. He said the two men drove slowly their motorcycle as they argued heatedly. Eventually, they stopped near the Postal Bank. The backrider disembarked, collared the policeman and pulled him off from his motorcycle.
Vallejo said the two men then beat up the police officer and took his .45-caliber pistol. One of the perpetrators used the gun to hit Estremos in the head several times until the policeman fell on the ground.
Then, the police officer was shot in the face. They then rode their motorcycle and left the policeman.
Vallejo said a security guard at a nearby church and a passing taxi driver saw what happened.
Recovered from the crime scene were two empty shells believed to be from .45-caliber pistol stolen from Estremos.
Vallejo said Estremos was no longer taken to a hospital as he died instantly .
Estremos was assigned at the Fuente Police station for over a year. He was one of the desk officers until he was pulled out to become a patrol team leader a week ago. With a report from Chito O. Aragon, Inquirer Visayas