Manila cop linked to colleague’s murder, drugs killed

Six men on motorcycles finished off PO2 Mark Anthony Peniano who was just dropping off his daughter. —GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

Ten seconds was all it took for gunmen to kill PO2 Mark Anthony Peniano in front of his 15-year-old daughter in Ermita, Manila, on Tuesday morning.

Authorities said the 35-year-old Peniano, a member of the Manila Police District (MPD), was reportedly involved in the drug trade in the Quiapo area.

He was also a suspect in the case of PO1 Jorsan Marie Alafriz of the Barbosa police station who was shot 16 times while driving home from work in March.

Peniano was taking his daughter to school on his motorcycle when he was shot on Marcelino Street.

A witness told the Inquirer there were six gunmen on three motorcycles, all of them wearing helmets and masks.

“I heard one shot then the policeman flew off his motorcycle,” the witness said, adding that more shots followed.

More than 20 bullet shells and casings were found at the scene after the gunmen left seconds later.

Saying Peniano was a high value target who was on the MPD’s drug watch list, Mayor Joseph Estrada ordered MPD director Chief Supt. Joel Coronel to go after his killers.

“Whatever the motives and circumstances, we owe it to the policeman’s family to investigate the case,” Estrada said as he stressed that he “does not condone the extrajudicial killings of law enforcers involved in drugs and other criminal activities.

Peniano’s last assignment was with the MPD holding unit.

Senior Supt. Danilo Macerin, MPD chief directorial staff, confirmed that Peniano was under investigation in connection with Alafriz’s death. “We have reliable information that Peniano joined a group of civilians in plotting her murder,” he said.

The MPD has also received a report that Peniano was involved in the drug trade in Quiapo. “Many of the drug suspects in Quiapo pointed to him as their source,” Macerin said.