2 lawmen hurt as snipers target QCPD arrest team

Two policemen were wounded when they were fired upon by several “snipers” in Barangay North Fairview, Quezon City, on Tuesday afternoon.

PO3 Dandy Pascacio and PO2 Roberto San Miguel of the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit were among several lawmen monitoring a slum area on Baker Street, Fairmont Subdivision in preparation for the possible arrest of a suspect when they were shot.

Pascacio was hit in the buttocks and San Miguel in the shoulder. Insp. Alan de la Cruz of the QCPD theft and robbery section said both subsequently received treatment and had since been pronounced out of danger.

Doctors recovered a slug from a .45-cal. revolver from San Miguel’s shoulder.

“We had just arrived in the area when shots were fired. There were snipers in the area,” Pascacio said.

Sniper injured, arrested

One of the four men who fired at the policemen was injured and placed under arrest. QCPD director Chief Supt. Richard Albano identified him as Samsuding Anarik, 24.

His three companions, on the other hand, were able to escape. The police also failed to arrest the suspect they were looking for.

Anarik, who yielded a .45-cal. pistol and fragmentation grenade, faces charges of car theft, frustrated murder, assault and illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

The police team which included the two lawmen were in the area on Tuesday afternoon as an advance party for another group of policemen out to arrest a suspect in the killing of Mark Matthew Alvarez, a 27-year-old car salesman.

Alvarez was shot dead at a gasoline station on Commonwealth Avenue in Barangay North Fairview before dawn last Saturday. The motorcycle he was driving was taken by his killer.

On Tuesday, immediately after the firefight, the police found Alvarez’s motorcycle in the area. From red, it had been painted yellow.