QC cop’s slay puzzles probers

MANILA, Philippines–The killing of a policeman while he was on duty but in plain clothes has raised questions that investigators were hoping to answer with the help of closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras.

Police probers are now gathering the footage taken by neighborhood security cameras to help identify the gunman and his accomplice in the ambush of a Quezon City policeman in Barangay (village) Loyola Heights on Sunday morning.

PO3 Frederick Gracilla was driving his motorcycle with his cousin as a back rider on Esteban Abada Street at 10:51 a.m. when he was shot in the head by one of two men apparently tailing him on another motorcycle.

Based on the report submitted to the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) headquarters in Camp Karingal, Sikatuna Village, Gracilla died on the spot while his cousin was able to run away as the suspects escaped.

Gracilla was on duty when he was killed although he was not in uniform, according to his superior, Anonas police station commander Supt. Richard Fiesta.

Since Nov. 14 last year, Gracilla had been assigned to the Anonas police station where he was tasked to man checkpoints in the daytime, Fiesta said.

Fiesta surmised that Gracilla, whose shift was from 6 a.m. to

6 p.m., may have come from manning a checkpoint on K-10 Street in Barangay East Kamias.

Fiesta said that Gracilla, a Taguig resident, was renting a room on Durian Street in Project 2 near the Anonas police station.

Why Gracilla was at Barangay Loyola Heights in plain clothes was still under investigation, he added. “[Gracilla] never mentioned at work that he was receiving any threats,” Fiesta said.

QCPD spokesperson Senior Insp. Maricar Taqueban said that copies of footage from CCTV cameras near the crime scene were being gathered for the identification of the suspects.