Alleged ‘ninja cop’ shot dead

MANILA, Philippines - A policeman who had gone AWOL or absent without official leave was gunned down by motorcycle-riding assailants in front of his wife in Tondo, Manila Sunday night.

Police Officer 1 Jose Sumacaton, 37, and his wife were standing in front of their house along F. Varona street when two men on a motorcycle arrived and shot him repeatedly at past 6 p.m., said Superintendent Robert Domingo, Manila Police District (MPD) Station 1 commander.

A source said Sumacaton, also known as “alias Erap,” was reportedly among the “ninja cops” who resold illegal drugs seized in legitimate police operations.

He was given notice to report to the MPD headquarters early this month but stopped going to work after receiving the notice, the source said.

Those who reported to the MPD headquarters were supposed to go to Malacañang and clean up the Pasig River as part of the punishment for “scalawag” police officers, the source added.  

The victim’s wife was unable to describe the assailants except to say there were wearing black pants and jackets.

Sumacaton died while being treated at the Mary Johnston Hospital.

2 slain in drug-related attacks 

In Caloocan City, two persons were killed in what police said were drug-related shootings on Sunday.

Canuto Medina, 49, was sleeping in his house along Buklod street in Barangay 168 when four armed men, wearing masks, barged in and shot him several times in the head at past 1 a.m. Sunday.

Probers recovered assorted drug paraphernalia at the scene.

A sister of the victim said Medina had been using his house as a drug den, according to city police chief Senior Superintendent Chito Bersaluna.

Reynaldo Gordo, 23, was found dead along Mayon Drive in Novahills Village, Barangay 171 at around 2 p.m.

Gordo, a resident of Barangay Apolonio Samson in Quezon City, was only identified through his tax identification card and a mobile phone found in his pocket, police said.