Police officer at NCRPO shot, injured on the road in Laguna

CAMP PACIANO RIZAL, Laguna, Philippines—A policewoman was shot in the middle of a road traffic in Calamba City, Laguna, as she was on her way to report for duty in Manila early Tuesday.

Senior Superintendent Pascual Muñoz, Laguna police director, identified the victim as Superintendent Vilma Sarte who was assigned at the finance department of the National Capital Region Police Office.

Sarte survived the shooting that happened around 8:20 a.m. but got gunshot wounds in the head and neck and was still undergoing treatment at the Doctors’ Hospital past 11 a.m.

The Laguna police said a traffic altercation between the victim and the gunman might have sparked the shooting.

In a phone interview, Muñoz said Sarte was driving her car but for some reason got off her vehicle at an intersection in Barangay Canlubang just before entering Silangan exit of South Luzon Expressway.

Muñoz said Sarte was standing about 15 meters away from her car when she was shot.

“We’re still trying to get witnesses but Vilma (Sarte) already told us the gunman was driving a sedan. We still don’t know how many (suspects) there were,” Muñoz said.

Another policeman, who just happened to pass by, rushed Sarte to a hospital.