Rizal cop shot dead on Ortigas Avenue

First published: 5:45 p.m., June 9, 2017

A homebound Rizal police officer was shot dead by a lone gunman on a motorcycle in Cainta, Rizal on Friday morning.

The Cainta Municipal Police Office identified the victim as PO3 Christian Valdeavilla, who was assigned at the Rizal Provincial Police Office’s Public Safety Company.

Valdeavilla, who was already in his 40s, was on his motorcycle at a stop light along Ortigas Avenue Extension at Brookside in Barangay San Isidro around 10:15 a.m., when the assailant, who walked away from his parked motorcycle near the crime scene, suddenly shot him twice in the neck and his head, said SPO1 Efren Ragguinan, Cainta police investigator.

The stop light had just turned green at that instant.

The assailant went back to his motorcycle and fled immediately, he added.

Valdeavilla, who was in civilian clothes, was on his way home at Litex Village, Barangay San Jose, Montalban, Rizal from duty, Ragguinan said.

The victim wasn’t able pull out his handgun still tucked in his waist, he added.

He died on the spot.

Witnesses told probers the assailant wore a black jacket, a black sling bag, a full-faced helmet and maong pants. Bystanders also failed to identify the plate number of the suspect’s motorcycle.

The police are looking into Valdeavilla’s previous operations and engagements as possible motives behind his death.

Valdeavilla’s remains lie at the Heaven’s Gate Funeral Homes in Cogeo. /atm