Cop slain in Malabon ambush; girl drowns in campus pool

A National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) official was killed in an ambush staged by three unidentified armed men early morning yesterday in Malabon.

Chief Superintendent Jose Bandong, Northern Police District (NPD) director, identified the slain policeman as Inspector Jose Torio, assigned at the NCRPO Special Action Force (SAF). Torio, 49, of Lot 7, Gabriel Subdivision, Obando, Bulacan, sustained five fatal wounds.

Superintendent Danilo Florentino, NPD District Intelligence and Investigation Division (DIID) chief, said that the incident occurred along M. Sioson st., in Dampalit, Malabon at about 7 a.m.

Torio was onboard his silver Toyota Corolla with plate number PNE 812, coming from a friend's house, when he was waylaid by the suspects.

Florentino said that two of the suspects pretended to be urinating on the roadside while another crossed the street when Torio's car was about to pass.

At this juncture, Torio slowed down and two of the suspects fired at him at close range. As the policeman slumped inside his vehicle, the other suspect finished him off with more shots.

Witnesses claimed that the suspects fled onboard a black motorcycle bringing with them Torio's caliber .45 pistol.

Meanwhile, a grade-five female student of the Holy Spirit School in Quezon City drowned in the school's swimming pool Friday afternoon, police said yesterday.

The family of Shira Mae Fendenco, 11, of 10-D Maginoo Street, Teacher's Village, was still in shock when investigators arrived at Malvar General Hospital, where the girl was declared dead on arrival.

Fendenco's mother refused to talk to anyone. The Holy Spirit School, a private school run by nuns, also did not release any official statement.

A lawyer identified only through his surname, Dimaayon, telephoned the Criminal Investigation Division, and gave the details of the incident.

Police said the victim was playing with some friends in the pool inside the school compound in BF Homes, Barangay Holy Spirit, at 3:45 p.m. Fendenco reached for a beach ball, which floated towards the deep end of the pool.

Fendenco, who did not how to swim, did not notice that she was in deep water. The girl drowned as she was shouting for help. School personnel tried to rescue her but to no avail.