COP TAGGED IN ‘ROAD RAGE’ SLAY FOUND DEAD IN QC HOME

A Manila policeman charged last year with killing a jeepney driver in a road rage incident was found dead inside his Quezon City residence on Monday.

Investigation showed that PO1 Ronald Pintacasi had a gunshot wound under his chin, with the bullet exiting through his head. The death was initially reported as a suicide, although police considered the possibility that the victim accidentally shot himself while cleaning his pistol.

Pintacasi’s body was found inside his house at Santa Mesa Heights, Barangay Doña Josefa, around 7 p.m. onmonday after a relative became concerned when he failed to open the door.

Officers who arrived at the scene learned that Pintacasi’s brother, Rubencito, had already buried the gun along with sev- eral bullets behind their house.

But foul play was ruled out and Rubencito’s actions did not make him a suspect.

According to PO3 Virgilio Mendoza, the case investigator, it is “common” in suicide cases for the victim’s family members to try to hide or get rid of the weapon used, usually out of fear or panic.

On May 1, 2017, Pintacasi was traveling on a motorbike when he was sideswiped by a passenger jeepney driven by Petranilo Fernando. Enraged, the officer shot Fernando three times, killing him on the spot. A bystander was wounded by a stray bullet.

Pintacasi was arrested shortly and spent more than a year behind bars, but recently managed to post bail. Mendoza said he had been reporting again to the Manila Police District since Aug. 23.