Cop who shot colleague in bar fight convicted

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines—A Bacolod Regional Trial Court judge on Monday sentenced a policeman to 14 years and eight months in prison for the killing of his colleague.

Bacolod RTC Branch 43 Judge Philadelfa Pagapong-Agraviador found PO3 Nicolas Tancinco Jr. guilty of homicide and ordered him to pay the heirs of his victim P1.6 million.

According to court records, Tancinco shot SPO3 Maximiano Zarsuelo III, of this city, with a .38 cal. revolver at VIP King’s Refreshment on Lizares Extension, Bacolod City, on March 14, 1996.

Zarsuelo, who was assigned to the Bacolod City police, died shortly after he was shot.

Tancinco had said he was just defending himself when he shot Zarsuelo. But the court said although Zarsuelo displayed “unlawful aggression” Tancinco used excessive force when he shot Zarsuelo three times.

“If the accused (Tancinco) only wanted to defend himself from Zarsuelo he could have shot him in the foot or in the hand holding the gun,” the judge said.

Tancinco, who has been detained at the Philippine National Police General Hospital in Camp Crame, was sentenced in absentia. His lawyer, Roem Arbolado, said he would file motion for reconsideration of the ruling.

Reynaldo Lee, owner of the restaurant where the shooting occurred, said Zarsuelo and Tancinco appeared to have a misunderstanding prior to the shooting.

Zarsuelo, using his service firearm, tried to hit Tancinco in the head but was pacified by another policeman, SPO3 Amador Verzosa Jr.

Zarsuelo left the restaurant but returned still agitated and armed. When he lost his balance after grappling for the possession of the gun with Versoza, Tancinco appeared and fired at Zarsuelo three times.