2 cops, 2 other persons wounded in separate shootings in Tondo

MANILA, Philippines—It was a night that saw bullets flying one after the other in three different places in Tondo, one of Manila’s poorest districts, from Friday night to early Saturday.

Top of the list was a “misencounter” between two policemen early Saturday morning.

Initial investigation showed that Southern Police District’s Police Officer 1 Liberato Cruz Jr. and Manila Police District’s  PO3 Dennis Santiago exchanged fire around 2:10 a.m. Saturday at the intersection of Herbosa and Quirino Streets.

Investigator Senior Police Officer 1 James Edrosolam said Santiago, a resident of Concha Street in Tondo, was on his way home on his motorcycle when he became suspicious of Cruz’s movements.

Cruz was traversing Herbosa Street ahead of Santiago when the former suddenly came to a stop and drew his firearm. Shots were fired by both sides with Cruz sustaining multiple gunshot wounds on the body while Santiago was hit on the right leg.

Cruz’s wife Annaliza, who was with the policeman during the incident, said however that her husband pulled over because they sensed danger after noticing that they were being followed by Santiago.

The two policemen are currently confined at Mary Johnston Hospital in Tondo pending further investigation by the General Assignment Desk of the MPD.

Earlier,  a 23-year-old woman was shot at the intersection of Kagitingan and Moriones Streets Friday night.

Police said the victim, identified as Julian Ann Valencia of Kalamansi Street, was shot in the neck by a man identified only as Jervin at 10:15 p.m. Friday while she was merely standing on the street. The assailant’s motive was not known.

Valencia is recuperating at Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center.

In Permanent Housing in Vitas, a 25-year-old man was shot during a heated argument around 10:30 p.m. Friday.

Police identified the man as Ryan Taneo who was shot in the face allegedly by a man identified only as Puding during a heated argument over a long-standing family feud.

Taneo is now confined at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center where he was rushed by his brother.