Lawmen gun down cop linked to bus robbers

A police officer accused of protecting a robbery gang preying on bus passengers was killed in a shoot-out with authorities on Friday night in Mandaluyong City.

Senior Supt. Armando Bolalin, Mandaluyong police chief, said that PO1 Leo Antiporda died at the hospital due to a lone gunshot wound.

Case investigator SPO2 Disilito Custodio said that before Antiporda died, he had been awol or absent without official leave following reports that he was protecting robbery syndicates in exchange for money.

At around 8 p.m. on Friday, members of the Philippine National Police’s Intelligence Group (PNP-IG) learned of Antiporda’s whereabouts.

They tailed him until he reached a loading bay for public vehicles in front of a mall on Edsa. They were about to arrest him when he became aware of their presence, leading to a shoot-out.

PNP-IG operatives said that Antiporda fired at them first and that they were forced to fire back.

He was hit several times and rushed to PNP General Hospital in Camp Crame where he died.