A police officer was killed while another was injured when one of two motorcycle-riding men fired at the lawmen when the suspects were flagged down for not wearing a helmet in Caloocan City Tuesday (December 29).
The Northern Police District (NPD) identified the slain officer as Corporal Dexter Rey Teves. The injured police officer was identified as Corporal Rex Graham Abigan.
The suspects were identified as Mark Gil Toreda, who was also killed in the shooting incident, and Clark Edano Castillo, who is now under police custody.
According to an NPD report, Teves and Abigan were conducting an Oplan Sita operation along T. Samson Road near their police station in Llano area around 2:20 p.m. Tuesday when they flagged down the motorcycle-riding suspects for not wearing helmets.
Torreda reportedly drew his firearm and shot at Teves and Abigan during the inspection.
Teves was hit in the abdomen while Abigan was hit in the right foot but managed to fire back.
Staff Sergeant Christopher Anos who heard the gun shot reportedly rushed to the crime scene and saw Toreda wresting the gun from the wounded Abigan, prompting him to shoot Toreda.
Castillo tried to flee but was captured and mauled by bystanders and witnesses that led to his arrest.
Police recovered a firearm, a grenade and ammunition from the suspects and seized P204,000 worth of suspected shabu from their belongings.
NPD Director Brig. Gen. Eliseo Cruz extended his deepest sympathy to the family of Teves and commended him for his “heroic” act.