Prosecutor, cop gunned down

MANILA, Philippines - A fiscal from Caloocan City and a policeman in Manila  were killed in separate attacks yesterday.

Assistant city prosecutor Diosdado Azarcon, a “Balik Islam” or convert to Islam, was locking the gate of his house in Barangay 63, West Grace Park when two men on a motorcycle shot him in the forehead and left leg at close range at around 7:35 a.m. He died at the scene.

A relative said Azarcon was on his way to work as “he had an early hearing.” 

Witness Alfredo Dabu said the gunman was at least 5’5” tall, of medium build and clad in a gray T-shirt. He failed to take note of the driver except to say he wore a full-face helmet.

The two were reportedly accompanied by four other men on two motorcycles.

Probers recovered three spent shells from a .45 caliber pistol. 

Chief Inspector Ilustre Mendoza, assistant city police chief, said they are still reviewing Azarcon’s cases and interviewing relatives to determine the motive.

He also asked Azarcon’s family to turn over the victim’s gadgets for inspection to determine if he received death threats.

Mendoza told The STAR that “from the looks of it, the killing was a hitman’s job.”

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II condemned the killing and ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe the murder of Azarcon, who was set to retire this month.

Azarcon is the fourth prosecutor attacked since October 2016.

The first was Mati City prosecutor Rolando Acido, who was shot dead outside the city’s Hall of Justice on Oct. 26, 2016.

Last January, Quezon City prosecutor Noel Mingoa was shot at close range outside a restaurant along Commonwealth Avenue. A month later, Surigao City prosecutor Manuel Tesioma survived an ambush attempt in his home.  

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines and other groups  condemned the attacks on prosecutors and expressed rage at the “pointless violence targeting our colleagues in the legal profession.”

Assistant City Prosecutor Diosdado Azarcon

Ambush

Meanwhile, Police Officer 2 Frederick Tolentino, 43, was killed in an ambush by three men on two motorcycles in Tondo, Manila at past midnight yesterday.

Tolentino was driving his Toyota Corolla Altis (XHS-721) along Quezon street when he was attacked at around 12:20 a.m.

Crime scene investigators said Tolentino had been shot in the neck and behind the ear and died at the scene. 

The assailants had been tailing Tolentino and waited until he reached a dimly lit area to attack him, said Police Officer 3 Michael Marragun, Manila Police District (MPD) homicide investigator.

Tolentino was cleared of charges in connection with the 2014 kidnapping of Korean businessman Hyun Koo-Yeo in September last year but had not reported for work, according to MPD homicide chief Senior Inspector Rommel Anicete.

A source said Tolentino was also arrested “based on a warrant issued in 2010 for beating his mistress and holding her hostage in a condominium unit.”

Tolentino was assigned to the MPD prior to being charged with kidnapping.

Anicete said they are checking reports that the victim was transferred to the National Capital Region Police Office’s Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit and later dismissed.

He was silent when asked about reports that Tolentino was reassigned to the MPD and was about to go report to work yesterday when he was ambushed.  – With Edu Punay