The Quezon City government announced on Tuesday, Dec. 13, that its People Law Enforcement Board (PLEB QC) has dismissed the police officer from Manila who shot and killed a traffic enforcer who was helping a motorcycle rider in the city in October.
The PLEB QC removed from service Lt. Felixberto Tiquil of the Manila Police District (MPD) Anti-Carnapping Unit for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer charges which were filed by the common-law wife of Edgar Abad Follero, the slain traffic enforcer, and the person he assisted when the incident happened.
The six-page decision of the QC PLEB was released on Tuesday, Dec. 13, the city government said.
The shooting incident occurred in front of Munoz Market along Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA), Brgy, Veterans Village in Quezon City at around 3:40 a.m. on Oct. 13.
Follero, a resident of Novaliches, Quezon Cit,y and a member of the QC Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS), was helping his friend, Paul Timothy Delos Reyes, a delivery rider, whose motorcycle broke down in Pandacan, Manila.
The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said that when the traffic enforcer and the delivery rider reached Munoz Market, Tiquil suddenly approached and shot the victim on the body. Follero still managed to ask for help from police officers who were on duty in the area.
The cops immediately arrested Tiquil and recovered a 9mm. G17 GEN4 handgun loaded with 11 bullets.
Follero was rushed to the Quezon City General Hospital where he was declared dead-on-arrival, according to the police.
The local government said the PLEB QC did not buy the suspect’s defense that he thought the victim and his friend were carnappers.
“We do not buy the alibi of Tiquil that he shot Follero because of self defense. He claims to be a seasoned police officer, and yet at the slightest instance, his first instinct is to inflict a mortal wound against an innocent person,” PLEB Executive Officer Rafael Calinisan said.
“This is a clear violation of the PNP (Philippine National Police) Rules of Procedure. Further, Tiquil also claims to have chased the victims from Nagtahan, Manila up to Roosevelt, Quezon City. How can people pushing a defective motorcycle outrun a seasoned cop on a motorbike? We are more than convinced that Tiquil was not being truthful in his narrative of what happened,” he added.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said that Tiquil’s dismissal should serve as a warning to rogue cops that they will be held accountable in the city.
“The wheels of justice run fast here in Quezon City, without fear or favor. I again commend the PLEB QC for their prompt action in helping out the ‘little one’ in need,” Belmonte said.
Read more: Cop shoots traffic enforcer dead in QC, Mayor Joy condoles with family of slain traffic enforcer