Dismissed Pasig cop shot dead in front of church

PHOTOGRABBED from video

A former policeman who was dismissed from the service due to alleged links to drug and robbery activities was shot dead in broad daylight in front of the Pasig Cathedral on Thursday morning.

SPO1 Rolando Baltazar had just come from the Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) and was driving his motorcyle, a Yamaha Vega Force, when killed along Caruncho Avenue near the corner of M.H. del Pilar at about 10:30 a.m.

Motorcycle-riding assailants reportedly stopped Baltazar near the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, some 300 meters from the Pasig City Hall, and opened fire.

Baltazar was hit in the head and body and died on the spot.

Recovered from the crime scene were several empty shells of .45 cal. and 9mm bullets.

An initial report from the Eastern Police District said Baltazar was arrested this July during a buy-bust operation. More than 100 grams of shabu were allegedly found in his possession.

The complaint, however, was returned for further investigation for lack of probable cause, an EPD report said.

Prior to the attack, Baltazar attended a preliminary investigation at the Pasig RTC.

According to the EPD public information office, Baltazar was dismissed from the service more than two years ago because of his alleged involvement in illegal drugs.

In 2014, he was arrested based on a warrant issued by Judge Danilo Cruz of the Pasig RTC Branch 152 for robbery.

Baltazar was tagged as the leader of the “Gapos Gang Spider Group,” a robbery group whose modus included robbing homes where occupants were hogtied, an EPD officer said./rga