Caloocan cop on stakeout shot dead, buddy wounded

An antinarcotics policeman was shot dead while another officer was wounded by two men whom they accosted in the street for questioning in Tala, Caloocan City, on Tuesday night.

PO2 Mark Pacheco, 31, a member of the North Extension Office of the Caloocan police, was killed on the spot while PO1 Jaypee John Pagarigan, 28, was hospitalized following the attack along Doña Aurora Street, Barangay 188.

Senior Supt. Bartolome Bustamante, the city police chief, said the tandem were conducting surveillance operations in the area, where drug dealers are known to thrive.

The officers, who were in civilian clothes, approached two men, who suddenly drew handguns and shot them.

Wounded in the left arm and lower torso, Pagarigan was able to return fire. One of the assailants left a trail of blood as they fled toward a nearby housing project.

According to Bustamante, the two officers went there with no other backup as they had no plan to “neutralize” any suspect, but the assailants acted as though they were aware of the tandem’s mission.

The  two officers will be receiving citations for valor. Bustamante said Pacheco’s family would also get financial aid and other benefits, including scholarships for his two sons.

Pacheco, a native of Lubwagan, Kalinga province,  was once a member of the Philippine National Police honor guard. Jodee A. Agoncillo