Cop would have survived attack if gun did not jam—police finding

MANILA, Philippines—The police official who was ambushed by motorcycle-riding gunmen on Sunday afternoon in Quezon City would have survived the attack if his gun did not conk out on him.

After inspecting Insp. Rodelio Dionco’s firearm, investigators learned that the official managed to fire a shot at his attackers but his gun failed him.

Insp. Elmer Monsalve, homicide section chief of the Quezon City Police District, said a bullet jammed in the chamber of the caliber .45 pistol, causing it to malfunction.

“Dionco was able to alight from his owner-type jeep and fire a shot after he was first hit, which means the first shot he got was not fatal,” the official said.

But after the first shot, Dionco’s gun jammed, leaving seven bullets stuck inside the gun.

Dionco, 50, chief of the intelligence branch of the Libis police station, was killed in an ambush along IBP Road in Barangay Batasan Hills at around 2 p.m. Sunday.

Chief Insp. Rodelio Marcelo, head of the QCPD’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, said they were looking at work-related or personal motives, which he declined to elaborate.

The victim was previously assigned to the Talipapa and Batasan police stations before his assignment at the Libis police station.

Sources said he was also posted at Task Force Commonwealth, a special group formed for illegal sidewalk vendors.

Marcelo has requested surveillance camera footages from Congress since the attack happened near the Civil Service Commission.

Dionco, a policeman who rose from the ranks, was on his way to his rooster farm when he was ambushed by motorcycle-riding gunmen.