Cops’ feud since ’09 leads to shoot-out

A personal feud between two Manila policemen led to a street shoot-out in Tondo, Manila, Thursday morning, leaving both of them wounded.

According to a police report, PO2 Lawrence Sagum of the Manila Police District (MPD) Station 7 was shot in the head and taken to the Metropolitan Medical Center in Tondo. At press time, he was reported to be in stable condition.

The other policeman, PO1 Isagani Jimenez of the MPD Station 11, was wounded in the arm. He fled after the incident and is now being sought by his colleagues at the MPD.

The police report said that the shooting was initiated by Sagum who was on a motorcycle. On his way to the Manila City Hall to report for court duty, he was overtaken by Jimenez who was also driving a motorcycle. Irked, Sagum shot Jimenez, hitting him on the arm at the corner of Dagupan and Tayuman Streets in Tondo.

Although wounded, Jimenez managed to fire back, hitting Sagum on the head.

Sagum’s mother, Cynthia, who went to the MPD headquarters when she learned of the shooting, told reporters that the incident may have emanated from a feud between her son and Jimenez in 2009.

According to her, their family used to live right next to the Jimenezes. She did not give additional details. Jodee Agoncillo