Motorcycle-riding men gun down police officer

A senior police officer assigned in Manila was shot dead by motorcycle-riding men at a parking lot of a cockpit arena in Malabon City Sunday afternoon.

Northern Police District director Chief Supt. Gregorio Lim identified the slain cop as SPO2 Rodolfo Cruz Jr., 51. He is assigned at the Manila Police District and a resident of Malabon.

Initial investigation showed that the incident happened at a parking lot of a cockpit arena in Barangay Dimpalit at around 3:30 p.m.

Cruz and his friend, identified as retired SPO1 Elmer Barola, were about to leave the area onboard a Toyota Fortuner when an unidentified man appeared and shot Cruz.

Cruz died due to multiple gunshot wounds in the body before reaching the Manila Central University Hospital.

Witnesses told police that the gunman then boarded a motorcycle driven by a cohort as they fled towards Obando, Bulacan. He was clad in black t-shirt, short pants, bull cap, and face mask.

Recovered from the scene were seven empty shells of still unknown caliber of firearm.

Earlier that day, retired Supt. Roberto Palisoc, who was reportedly included in President Duterte’s drug watchlist, was also killed by motorcycle-riding assailants near a church in Malate, Manila.

On Thursday morning, Inspector George Delfin of the National Capital Region Police Office Jail Management was also gunned down in an ambush while on his way home in Sta. Ana, Manila.