A dismissed cop was killed Friday midnight when he allegedly shot it out with anti-illegal drugs operatives in Quezon City.
Senior Supt. Guillermo Eleazar, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director, said PO3 Pelito Basan Obligacion of Sauyo Road in Novaliches, died on the spot when he engaged operatives of Talipapa Police Station (PS-3) in a shootout during a buy-bust operation on Dingle St. in Barangay Pasong Tamo, Tandang Sora.
Eleazar said Obligacion, aside from his involvement in illegal drugs and gunrunning activities, was also implicated in the murder of two policemen in Barangay Bagong Silang, Caloocan City in 2013. The murder case, however, did not push through, the QCPD director said.
The buy-bust operation was carried out after the police received a telephone call from an informant, reporting that two men were having illegal drugs transaction on a dimly lit portion of Dingle Street.
As police approached the suspects, Obligacion reportedly drew his firearm and fired shots at lawmen. This prompted the cops to shoot back, resulting in his death.
The unidentified cohort of the slain suspect escaped on board a motorcycle.
Crime scene investigators recovered from the body of the suspect a .45-caliber pistol loaded with five bullets, fired cartridge cases for .45-caliber and 9mm pistols, heat-sealed plastic sachets containing shabu, and a motorcycle with plate number WH6725.
Obligacion was identified based on his PNP ID that was recovered from the compartment of his motorcycle.
Eleazar said the cop was formerly assigned to PS-3 in 2008. He was transferred to Marikina Police Station before he went on AWOL (absence without official leave). He was dismissed from the service on March 15, 2015.
Last Monday, two AWOL cops from PNP Camp Crame’s Service Support department, identified as Chief Inspector Churchill Marcelo Jr. and PO3 Erwin Reginaldo, were also arrested after being caught engaging in a pot session with three others, including one Jonathan dela Cruz alias “Tan-tan,” inside a house on Kaunlaran St., Barangay Commonwealth.
The house is owned by Dela Cruz, who according to Batasan police, surrendered to them in one of their Oplan Tokhang operations.
Eleazar said the cops are now detained in Batasan Police Station.
Last July 10, anti-drugs operatives of PS-3 also killed PO2 Ariel Policarpio Arnaiz in a shootout that ensued during Oplan Kapak or Operation Katok at Pakiusap at his residence in Barangay Baesa. Arnaiz also went on AWOL in February 2015.