The Manila policeman who was shot dead Friday night had a spotless record and well-loved among his peers, police investigators said yesterday.
Police Officer 2 Erickson Peralta, 38, who was on his way home aboard his motorcycle, died on the spot from gunshot wounds in different parts of the body.
The shooting incident took place at the corner of J. Bocobo and Padre Faura Street in Ermita, Manila around 7:46 p.m.
The two gunmen fled aboard a motorcycle. At least four men in two motorcycles served as backups, witnesses told police.
Autopsy reports showed that the victim had bullet wounds in the upper body, head, right upper arm, lower jaw, and face.
Recovered from the crime scene were four empty shells and one deformed slug of a caliber .45.
Police have yet to establish the motive. Robbery has been ruled out because not a single item was taken from the victim’s body.
“For now, we are still facing a blank wall because his friends told us he was not receiving death threats and our background investigation showed that he did not have an enemy in relation with his job,” said Police Chief Inspector Fernildo De Castro, chief of the Manila Police District (MPD) homicide section.
Peralta had just been transferred to MPD’s theft and robbery section barely a week ago.
Rolando Latican, a 64-year-old utility worker with MPD for the past 15 years, said Peralta was so affectionate he even gave Latican a hug the night of the incident.
“Parang anak ko na rin siya, tatay na ang tawag niya sa akin. Niyakap pa nga niya ako nung gabing ‘yun kasi nagtatanong siya kung saan ba siya pwedeng mag-park ng motor,” Latican recalled.
Latican recalled the days when the victim was brought to the station by his father, retired policeman Insp. Ernesto Peralta who was assigned at MPD-Station 5.
“Bata pa lang siya, sinasama na siya ng papa niya rito. Kumbaga, naging playground niya itong buong MPD,” Latican said.
Latican said the news came as a surprise, insisting that Peralta was not a bad cop.
“Hindi talaga ako naniwala na nabaril siya. Pumunta pa talaga ako sa homicide para i-confirm ko sa kanila,” he said.
Meanwhile, MPD director Police Chief Supt. Joel Coronel formed a Special Investigation Task Group that will probe Peralta’s death.
De Castro said they are now coordinating with the authorities of a hotel near J. Bocobo corner Padre Faura where the shooting happened to obtain copies of the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage at the time of the incident.
Peralta left four young children. (JAIMIE ABERIA)