Cop assigned to Baclaran sidewalk clearing operations killed by vendor

MANILA, Philippines—A policeman assigned to clear sidewalks of vendors near the Baclaran Church in Parañaque City died a day after he was shot in the head on his way home from work.

Police Officer 3 Mapilindo Prades, 47, a member of the city police, passed away at 6:45 a.m. Thursday at San Juan de Dios Hospital due to a lone gunshot wound in the back of his head.

Parañaque Mayor Florencio Bernabe, meanwhile, announced a P20,000 cash reward for any information that would lead to the arrest of the gunman.

He also said that the twice-weekly clearing operations would now be conducted every day.

Prades was on his way home from a clearing operation on Redemptorist Road at 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday when a lone gunman shot him and then fled, according to city police chief Senior Superintendent Nestor Pastoral.

Pastoral said the gunman was one of the vendors affected by the clearing operations although he refused to give more details.

“The suspect must have waited for Prades since he was one of the last to leave the [area] after the clearing operation,” he added.

“We will do everything to solve this case as soon as possible,” Pastoral said.