Motorcycle-riding suspects gun down Manila police officer

A Manila police officer was killed and a local barangay official was in critical condition after motorcyle-riding gunman opened fire on them, GMA 7 news program "24 Oras Weekend" reported on Sunday.



Senior Police Officer 1 Teodorico Arabe and Barangay Kagawad Emiliano Ahon were at a bakery on the corner of Tomas Mapua and Yuseco Street Saturday night when the gunmen drove up and shot them.

"Pagtalikod namin, may pumutok na baril. Dalawang beses tapos gulat na lang kami pagtingin namin nakabulagta na sila," said bakery employee Mary Jean Baldado.

Arabe's grief-stricken family called on the gunmen to give themselves up.

"Babarilin nila nang walang kalaban-laban, para sa amin na naiwan niya, napakasakit. Kung meron ka pang natitirang ano, sana sumuko ka," cried Arabe's daughter, Janet.

Manila Police District Station 3 spokesperson Police Senior Inspector Ana Simbajon revealed that investigators were following a lead which suggested the shooting had something to do with the victims' duties.

Arabe was working at Manila's traffic bureau. But before that, he was working as an anti-narcotics officer.

Arabe had also told his family that he was being threatened. "Hindi naman niya pinangalanan kung sino 'yung mga 'yon. Siyempre pulis, pag pulis naman kasi marami talagang galit," Janet said.

Ahon, for his part, had no enemies, according to his helper Riza, "Wala mabait talaga yung kagawad, bahay at bahay lang 'yon. Wala talagang ano 'yon, kaaway," she explained. — Anna Felicia Bajo/DVM, GMA News