MetroBriefs: MPD revamp to take effect Tuesday

Manila Police District (MPD) director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rongavilla announced Monday a revamp of seven of the city’s 11 police station commanders which would take effect starting Tuesday. Rongavilla told the Inquirer that the move was part of a routine reshuffle to boost his men’s efficiency. Tapped to head the MPD Station 1 was Supt. Rolando Tumalad. He replaced Supt. Marvin Wynn Marcos who was reassigned to Station 10. Supt. Jemar Modequillo was designated head of Station 2, replacing Supt. Rodolfo Fajardo. Modequillo’s previous post, Station 4 head, was given to former Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit head Supt. Rolando Balasabas. Supt. Ricardo Layug, former commander of Station 6, was reassigned to Station 5 while his old post was given to Supt. Remigio Sedanto who turned over Station 10 to Marcos. Former Station 5 commander Supt. Frumencio Bernal was reassigned to Station 8 replacing Supt. Jimmy Tiu, who was reassigned to the MPD headquarters pending his appointment to a post in one of the police units. Station 3 commander Supt. James Afalla; Station 7 commander Supt. Ernesto Barlam; Station 9 commander Supt. Dominador Arevalo; and Station 11 commander Supt. Ferdinand Quirante retained their posts.—Jeannette I. Andrade

Guard arrested for indiscriminate firing

Pasay policemen arrested a security guard on Sunday evening after he reportedly fired his service firearm near the house of his neighbor whom he suspected of having an affair with his wife. Authorities took into custody Pablo Remalante, 47, a resident of Kalayaan Street in Pasay City after his neighbor called the police. Marife Nabidad said that on Sunday night, Remalante stopped in front of her house, fired his gun into the air and then left. When the police came, they searched for Remalante and when they saw him, he tried to escape but they managed to subdue him. Although his wife presented to the police several documents to prove that he had the right to carry a firearm, investigators said they would file charges of alarm and scandal and resisting arrest against Remalante.—Miko Morelos

Cop vs robbers: 1 killed

One of four suspected motorcycle thieves was killed on Sunday night in a shootout with a member of the Special Action Force (SAF) whose newly bought bike he and his cohorts allegedly attempted to steal in Manila. Christian Pabalan, 21, of Batanes Street in Sampaloc, died on the spot due to a gunshot wound while his three other motorcycle-riding companions, all allegedly wearing black jackets with “Police” markings were able to escape. Police Officer 1 Michael Daygo, 34, assigned at the PNP SAF office in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, voluntarily surrendered to the Manila Police District (MPD) homicide section. MPD homicide section investigator PO3 Alonzo Layugan said that the shooting happened at 8:50 p.m. on Sunday at the corner of Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard and V. Mapa Street in Sta. Mesa. Before that, Layugan said that Daygo had momentarily left his Yamaha Fino parked outside the house of a barangay (village) official to get some clothes from his home on V. Mapa Street. After five minutes, he was informed by the barangay official that a man had driven off on his motorcycle, prompting Daygo to give chase. Daygo got on a jeepney and caught up with the motorcycle thief at the corner of Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard and V. Mapa Street. The man had three other cohorts, all riding on motorcycles. “I walked up to the group upon seeing that they were busy trying to open the compartment of my motorcycle and immediately grabbed a 9 mm pistol from one of the suspects,” the SAF man told the Inquirer. The movement and his introduction as a policeman took the motorcycle thieves by surprise. As one of them tried to wrestle the gun away from Daygo, some of his cohorts escaped. Others tried to fire on the policeman and he fired back, hitting one of them.—Jeannette I. Andrade