QC cop’s murder likely work-related, say investigators

MANILA, Philippines — A Quezon City policeman was gunned down Sunday morning by a lone shooter outside his Novaliches home while he was washing his Asian utility vehicle before driving to work.

SPO1 Michael Gayagoy Jr, 55, assigned with the follow-up section of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Novaliches station, is the third local policeman to be killed since December 2013.

Supt. Norberto Babagay, the QCPD Novaliches station commander, said that Gayagoy was set for compulsory retirement late this year and that the motive behind his killing was most likely work-related.

SPO1 Eric Lazo, of the QCPD Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU), said that Gayagoy sustained nine bullet wounds in the head and in the body after he was cornered by the gunman.

“He (Gayagoy) was not able to run for his gun and fire back because he apparently did not want collateral damage,” Lazo told the Philipine Daily Inquirer, explaining that there was a funeral wake at a neighbor’s house along Ibon Pilak Street, Sitio Aguardiente, Barangay Sta. Monica in Novaliches.

Lazo said that before the killing, which happened at around 10 a.m., Gayagoy had been in the middle of his pre-duty routine of cleaning his Toyota Tamaraw FX.

A witness told police an armed man suddenly appeared and fired at Gayagoy, who was initially able to duck for cover. However, instead of running towards his house, Gayagoy ran away from it apparently to lead the gunman away. It was then that he was cornered, repeatedly shot and instantly killed, the case investigator said.

Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) recovered six bullet casings and four fired bullet slugs, all from a .45 pistol, at the site.

Babagay said that the Novaliches policeman might have been targeted for his involvement in several cases, including the recent killing of a murder suspect during a shootout.

The station commander also said that it was possible that Gayagoy’s death was orchestrated by drug offenders in the area who were afraid of the victim. It was learned that before he was assigned to the Novaliches police station, Gayagoy had been detailed with the anti-narcotics section of the QCPD Batasan Hills station.

Babagay said that the victim’s family had mentioned that Gayagoy previously received threats from a drug suspect he arrested while assigned with his former police station.

The Novaliches station commander assured that all possible angles behind the killing would be investigated.

Before Gayagoy’s death, two other Quezon City policemen were gunned down and killed since last month.

On December 5, last year, SPO4 Edward Torio was ambushed and killed while he was driving to work on his owner-type jeepney along Commonwealth Avenue.

Torio was overall supervisor of Task Force Commonwealth, tasked with conducting clearing operations against illegal sidewalk vendors on the major thoroughfare.

Just last week PO1 Aldrin Castro, of the QCPD District Police Safety Battalion (DPSB), was on a motorcycle riding to work when he was shot dead by one of two motorcycle-riding men in Taguig City. The suspects then took his motorcycle and his service firearm before fleeing.

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