Cop wounded in shooting

CEBU, Philippines- A police officer was shot by a stranger outside a police station yesterday morning in the market in Poblacion, Lapu-Lapu City.

Police Officer 2 Ezekiel Melodia II, who hails from Santa Catalina in Negros Oriental and assigned in Lapu-Lapu City Police Station 3 in Barangay Gun-ob, got wounded by the bullet from an unknown caliber of firearm.

Police Senior Inspector Wilbert Parilla of LCPO Station 3 said the incident happened around 1:40 a.m.

Initial report said Melodia, off-duty at that time, went outside the sub-station's police quarter located in the market to buy cigarettes.

Outside, he noticed a man loitering around the area so Melodia decided to bring him to the police station.

Melodia approached the suspect and asked him if he can go with him to the police station but suddenly the man took out his unidentified gun and shot Melodia, hitting the back portion of his body.

The suspect fled from the scene and rode a motorcycle while Melodia was rushed to the Mactan Doctors' Hospital.

Parilla said Melodia will undergo surgical operation because the bullet reportedly hit his spinal column.

As of now, the police are still searching for the suspect's whereabouts.