Cop fires at ex-Bulacan governor's SUV - report

(Updated 12:32 p.m.) A policeman allegedly fired at a sport utility vehicle (SUV) of former Bulacan Gov. Josefina dela Cruz and manhandled her driver on Sunday night. Radio dzBB reported Monday that the policeman, initially identified as Chief Insp. Jetro (or Jethro) Lim, aimed a handgun at Eduardo Masangkay, driver of Dela Cruz, and pistol whipped him during a confrontation in Quezon City. A separate report on GMA News Unang Balita quoted Dela Cruz's camp as saying that the Nissan Patrol (WEE-800) that figured in the altercation was the former governor's "backup vehicle." It said that at about 10 p.m. Sunday, a red Toyota Corolla sedan trailed the Patrol after a near-collision road encounter in Guadalupe, Makati City. Upon reaching the People Power Monument in Quezon City, Lim opened fire at the Patrol. Masangkay alighted the vehicle, but Lim allegedly turned violent. "He held his ID in front of me. He also had his gun pointed at me. When I approached him, he rammed the gun's barrel to my face. Then he repeatedly hit my face with the ID," Masangkay said in Filipino. He also claimed that Lim kicked and punched him. Dela Cruz and her son were apparently in another vehicle when the confrontation happened. She told GMA News that she was grateful that she, her son or other people in the area were not hurt by the gunfire. Radio dzBB said a police escort of Dela Cruz, initially identified as Police Officer (PO) 1 Evangelista, tried to introduce himself and defuse the tension. However, Lim allegedly confiscated his license and told him to retrieve it at the headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Camp Crame. Earlier reports said Lim claimed to be a member of the CIDG Metro Manila unit under Senior Superintendent Asher Dolina. GMA News sought Dolina for comment, but the police official said he has yet to get details about the incident. Accompanied by Dela Cruz and her son, Masangkay lodged a complaint before the Quezon City Police District Station 8. For her part, Dela Cruz urged the police Monday to throw the book at Lim. She called for a full investigation into the incident while saying police officials like Lim should not be allowed to get away with abuses. QTV Balitanghali said Dela Cruz was readying criminal charges against Lim and was considering to lodge a complaint before the National Police Commission (Napolcom). - GMANews.TV