SPD cop shot dead, companion hurt in Pasig City motel attack

A member of the Southern Police District’s anti-illegal drugs unit was shot dead by unknown gunmen at a motel in Pasig City on Thursday night.

A report reaching Eastern Police District director Chief Supt Reynaldo Biay said SPO2 Ernesto Sanchez, 53,  of the SPD’s drug enforcement unit was shot dead inside a white Toyota Fortuner at the Country Lodge motel along Danny Floro St., in Brgy. Oranbo at about 11:20 pm.

Also shot and injured was Sanchez’ companion,  Josebel Polo, 20, a student and a resident of  Brgy. Addition Hills in Mandaluyong City.

Initial investigation showed that Sanchez and Polo were inside the sports utility vehicle when the armed suspects aboard a black Toyota Revo (XAY-567) appeared.

Police said two men armed with an M16 rifle and a shotgun, alighted and disarmed the motel’s security guard.

According to police, other unidentified suspects then alighted from the Revo and repeatedly shot at the victims’ Fortuner.

Police said Sanchez and Polo sustained multiple gunshot wounds in various parts of their bodies while the unidentified gunmen immediately fled aboard the Revo.

Sanchez was declared dead on the spot by emergency responders  while Polo was rushed to a hospital  where she remains in critical condition.

Recovered from the crime scene were 14 fired spent shells and a slug. Meanwhile, investigators also recovered a loaded caliber .45 pistol and a loaded 9mm Berreta pistol inside the Fortuner.

Meanwhile, the Pasig Police has already requested a copy of the motel’s closed circuit television camera footage to help them identify the gunmen.

In an interview early Friday, Senior Supt Yebra Jr., Pasig City Police chief said they are looking into the possibility that the victims were working on an operation when they were attacked. Police are looking into the angle that Polo was Sanchez’s “asset” or informant.

Probers are also looking into the angle that Sanchez and Polo could be lovers, according to Yebra.

“We are still trying to talk to the 20-year-old student but only the mother is answering us,” Yebra said.

Yebra said Sanchez left behind a wife who is also a police officer assigned at the National Capital Region Police Office. They have two children.

According to Yebra, Sanchez  was a veteran anti-drugs operative of more than  20 years and was assigned to the  SPD’s drug enforcement unit in 2017. Sanchez, also survived an ambush try in 2014, said Yebra.

Meanwhile, Chief Insp Jerry Amindalan, head of the SPD-DEU, told the Inquirer that his team had been working the whole day on Thursday and had instructed Sanchez and two other officers to make more arrests.

“Maybe iyon na iyon. I think he was there to work on a case,” Amindalan said,

“Minsan kasi siya (Sanchez) na ang nakikipagusap,” Amindalan added.

Amindalan describes Sanchez as a responsible assistant leader and a motivating senior officer.

“Siya ang bastonero ko dito. Taga encourage ng mga napapagod at takot na mga pulis,” he said.   /muf