Cops in shootout charged

MANILA, Philippines - Two policemen and their companions, who figured in a shootout in Angono, Rizal Sunday that left a man dead, were charged before the provincial prosecutor’s office yesterday.

Senior Police Officer 1 Edison Descalzota, 50, and his brother, Elmer, were charged with homicide and frustrated homicide.

Superintendent Wilson Magpali and Allan Escallo, 32, were charged with frustrated homicide, grave threats and alarm and scandal.

Magpali is the chief of the Cavite police anti-drug unit while Descalzota is from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Camp Crame.

According to initial reports, a .45 caliber bullet ripped through 47-year-old Isidro Magpali’s chest and exited just below his ear.

Descalzota yielded a Para Ordnance .45 caliber pistol loaded with seven bullets while Magpali surrendered a 9mm pistol, a shotgun and an M-16 Armalite rifle.

Rizal provincial police chief Senior Superintendent Bernabe Balba said investigators are conducting ballistics tests on the surrendered firearms to determine whether they were fired during Sunday’s shootout. At least 30 spent shells were recovered at the crime scene.

Magpali and Descalzota are under the custody of Superintendent Lucilo Laguna Jr., Angono police chief, pending the provincial prosecutor’s office resolution of their cases.

They and Escallo surrendered to Laguna while Elmer remains at large.

According to reports, Magpali, Escallo and Myca Sobreo, 25, came from Cavite to attend a family reunion at the victim’s ancestral home.

The Descalzotas were also having a family gathering nearby.

While walking to their parked vehicle, the Magpalis passed the Descalzota home and the victim accidentally leaned on a parked car owned by Descalzota.

According to Balba, Elmer accosted Isidro and slapped him, triggering the shootout.