Cebu cop beaten up, shot dead

CEBU CITY—A policeman was beaten up and shot dead with his own firearm by two unidentified men past 2 a.m. on Saturday here.

PO2 Gerlito Estremos, in his 30s and a member of the Fuente police station, died on the spot after he was shot in the face.

PO3 Allan Vallejo, Estremos’ colleague, said Estremos had just been assigned a week ago as a team leader after being a desk officer for over a year.

At 12:05 a.m. on Saturday, Estremos and another policeman were on patrol using motorcycles because their patrol car was under repair.

Estremos’ companion returned to the police station while he  proceeded to

R. Landon Street.

There, after Estremos parked his motorcycle, a man took his helmet and sped off on board a motorcycle. Estremos chased the thief on board his motorcycle and saw the motorcycle used by the thief on P. Del Rosario Street but with two men riding it.

Vallejo, recounting results of investigation, said one of the men disembarked from the motorcycle and yanked Estremos off his motorcycle.

The other man joined in and the two suspects started beating the policeman up, taking his .45 cal. pistol. One of the men used the gun to shoot Estremos in the head several times.

Vallejo said a security guard at a nearby church and a passing taxi driver saw what happened.

Vallejo said Estremos died on the spot.

Estremos has been assigned to the Fuente police station for over a year. He was one of the desk officers until he was pulled out to become the team leader a week ago. With a report from Chito O. Aragon, Inquirer Visayas