One of the rogue policemen, who defied President Duterte’s order to have them deployed to Basilan, miraculously survived when suspected vigilantes shot him in the forehead in Caloocan City Tuesday night.
Senior Supt. Chito G. Bersaluna, Caloocan Police chief, said Police Officer 2 Joselito Andres, 51, assigned to Valenzuela Police and resident of Barngay Lanzones, Malabon, is now recuperating at Manila Central University Hospital after doctors extracted a bullet from his head.
Initial investigation showed that Andres and his friends were travelling on board a tricycle along Pio Valenzuela St. in Barangay 78, Caloocan, at about 10:30 p.m. when two armed men riding a motorcycle waylaid them.
One of the masked men pulled out his gun and shot the victim once in the forehead.
Christina Mangolino, 41, saw Andres fall to the ground after being shot. She said after a few seconds, the victim regained consciousness, pulled out his gun and retaliated but missed hitting his attackers.
The gunmen immediately fled onboard their motorcycle, witnesses said.
The wounded Andres was rushed by his companions to the hospital.
Bersaluna said the bullet retrieved from the victim’s head came from a .45-caliber pistol.
Police probers recovered from the crime scene two magazines with ammunition and four spent shell from a .45-calbier pistol.
A source from the Northern Police District (NPD), who requested anonymity, said Andres has a pending case. He was suspended and was added to the list of rogue cops submitted to PNP chief Gen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
The same source said the victim is also in the drug watch list of NPD.
Bersaluna confirmed that Andres was supposed to be assigned to Basilan. but he together with around 100 cops did not show up for their deployment, defying the order of the President and the PNP chief.
Senior Supt Ronaldo Mendoza, Valenzuela Police chief, said Andres was assigned for about five years to the anti-illegal drug unit of Caloocan Police before he was transferred to Valenzuela.
Mendoza was told by Andres that he has many death threats because of the nature of his work while he was assigned to Caloocan.
The Mendoza described Andres as a very smart cop based on his observation. He said the victim served about a year in Valenzuela before the deployment order of the President came.
Police are now hunting down the gunmen who almost killed Andres. (JEL SANTOS)