By MINKA TIANGCO
A COP was gunned down by two motorcycle-riding men on his way to duty yesterday morning, hours after his friend, also a police officer assigned to the Northern Police District (NPD), was killed in a buy-bust operation in Caloocan City.
Police identified the victim as PO1 Marvin Anthony German, 31, assigned to NPD Admin Holding Unit and resident of Nadurata Street, Barangay 46, Caloocan City.
Police said German had been a police officer for seven years.
Initial investigation showed that at about 8:30 a.m., German was driving his motorcycle on his way to work on D. Aquino Street in Barangay 46, Caloocan City when the assailants on board a motorbike blocked his path and peppered him with bullets.
The attackers sped away towards an unknown location.
The victim was rushed by his relatives to Caloocan City Medical Center but was declared dead-on-arrival at 9:39 a.m.
Police recovered five fired cartridge cases of undetermined caliber from the crime scene.
Police said vengeance is being eyed as possible motive behind the killing since German was formerly assigned to the District Drug Enforcement Unit and had handled big drug cases.
According to PO1 Anthony Wanawan, investigator on case, there were no witnesses and no CCTV footages available around the area.
Edison Fernandez, team leader of NMAX Club Philippines and one of the victim’s close friends, described German as kind, generous, and cheerful.
“Napaka-bait na tao niyan. Wala kang masasabi,” Fernandez said.
He added that German, who was one of the pioneering members of the club, frequently joined charity rides to give food donations to those in need.
But when German joined the police, he distanced himself from his friends to avoid endangering them.
“Maka-Duterte ‘yan, eh. Sinabihan na namin mag-ingat ‘yan, eh, pero wala, gusto niya talaga dun sa drugs,” Fernadez said.
Police said German was a friend of PO3 Ernesto Estrellas Jr., assigned to NPD District Headquarters Service Unit, who was killed by NPD operatives in a buy-bust operation on Monday night.
The victim’s body was brought to Ambassador Funeral Homes for autopsy.
Follow-up investigation and operation are ongoing for the possible identification of the assailants.