2 cops trade shots over toothpick; 1 hurt

A spat over a toothpick led to two police officers shooting each other in Caloocan City, leaving one of them wounded on Saturday afternoon.

Senior Police Officer 1 Romel Bautista, 42, assigned with the Caloocan police investigation division, was wounded in the shootout.

Bautista was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Police Officer 2 Paul John dela Fuente, 33, of the Manila Police District (MPD) Station 1, remains at large.

A jeepney driver was wounded after being hit by a stray bullet, according to Chief Inspector Ilustre Mendoza, assistant chief of the Caloocan police.

Initial investigation showed that Danny Sta. Maria, 66, was eating at a carinderia along A. Mabini street in Barangay 18 when he took a toothpick from the table where Dela Fuente was eating at around 3:20 p.m.

Witnesses said Dela Fuente felt insulted and badmouthed Sta. Maria, who immediately apologized.

Dela Fuente did not accept Sta. Maria’s apology and instead punched him.

The bloodied Sta. Maria, a member of the Iglesia ni Cristo, went to the INC chapel in the area and sought help from Bautista.

Bautista was about to approach Dela Fuente when the latter drew his gun and opened fire, hitting the Caloocan policeman in the leg.

Although wounded, Bautista fired at Dela Fuente but missed.

Dela Fuente fled on foot, leaving behind his motorcycle.

Police said they recovered 13 spent shells from unknown firearms at the scene.

Northern Police District director Chief Superintendent Amando Clifton Empiso has ordered a manhunt for Dela Fuente.

Operatives of the Caloocan police went to the MPD Station 1 in Tondo to look for Dela Fuente, but they were met by station commander Superintendent Gerry Corpuz, who allegedly admonished them.

“What are you doing here? Aren’t you all relieved? There is no way I’m giving up my man to you,” a policeman quoted Corpuz as saying.

MPD spokesman Superintendent Erwin Margarejo said they would conduct a parallel investigation into the incident.

Margarejo said he would file charges against Dela Fuente if evidence warrants.

“We are not going to tolerate any wrongdoing of MPD personnel. But in the spirit of fairness, we have to know what really happened,” he said.