Cop faces murder complaint over fatal shooting of QC traffic enforcer

A murder complaint has been filed against the police officer who shot dead a traffic enforcer he allegedly mistook for a motorcycle thief, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said Wednesday.

“Nai-file na ang kaso sa piskalya kahapon ng gabi. Hinihintay natin ang magiging resolusyon ng piskal. Murder ang kinaso natin doon sa pulis,”  QCPD  chief Police Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III said in an interview on Dobol B TV.

(The complaint was filed last night with the prosecutor. We are waiting for the resolution of the prosecutor. The complaint was for murder.)

Asked why murder, Torre said he does not see any “justification” for the suspect, Police Lieutenant Felixberto Rapana Tiquil, to shoot victim Edgar Follero, a traffic enforcer.

“Wala akong nakitang justification para gamitan ng baril at patayin 'yung tao o sugatan lang [I cannot see any justification for him to use the gun and kill or even hurt the victim],” he said, noting that Tiquil did not comply with police operational procedures on the use of firearms.

Tiquil, who is currently in police custody, is a member of the Manila Police District Anti-Carnapping Unit (MPD-DACU).

Follero sustained gunshot wounds on his chest and arm, Torre said in a separate radio interview.

Citing the statement of Tiquil, Torre said the cop followed Follero and his companion who were pushing a malfunctioning motorcycle from Manila to Quezon City. The shooting incident took place on EDSA near Roosevelt Avenue.

According to Torre, the Manila Police District (MPD) informed him that it has no operation related to the incident.

Meanwhile, Follero’s family is calling for justice, according to a report on GMA News’ Unang Balita. According to them, the suspect did not even give the victim a chance to explain.

“Wala pong kalaban-laban 'yung asawa ko. Pinagbabaril siya ng pulis. Hindi po siya binigyan ng pagkakataon para magpaliwanag. Pinagbintangan lang po siya na carnapper,” Follero’s widow Charilyn Pagsibingan said.

(My husband was defenseless. The cop shot him. He was not given the opportunity to explain himself. He was just accused of being a carnapper.)

“Grabe, basta na lang daw pinaputukan 'yung anak ko. Walang kaabog-abog. Di ba pulis sila? Dapat manmanan. Pinadapa nila, [pinataas] yung dalawang kamay. Ang hirap, ang sakit,” Follero’s father, June, said.

(The cop just suddenly fired at my son. They are the police, right? They should have surveillance. They should have told my son to lay face down or raise his two arms. It is hard and painful for us.)

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte expressed sympathies to the victim's family and vowed that justice will be served without any prejudice.

“On behalf of the entire Quezon City local government, I would like to offer our sincerest and most heartfelt sympathies to the family of our slain traffic enforcer, Edgar Abad Follero,” she said in a statement.

According to Belmonte, Follero was assisting a delivery rider whose motorcycle had broken down when the incident took place.

“Before he was killed, Edgar was known to be a helpful, friendly, and dutiful member of the Quezon City Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS). Indeed, his last minutes were spent assisting someone in need, specifically a delivery rider whose motorcycle had broken down,” she said.

Tiquil is detained at Camp Karingal after surrendering to the police. —KBK, GMA News