Army man, son nabbed for killing of PNP officer

A playful boast gave away an Army man and his son as the prime suspects in the killing of a police precinct commander and two others in front a pub in Pasig City six days ago.

It was too late for Staff Sergeant Gavino Tripoli Jr., when he learned that his boast had helped police trace him and his son, Michael, 18, for the killing of Chief Inspector Danilo Balaysoche, 42, commander of Pasig City police precinct No. 8 in Barangay Santolan.

A police team headed by Inspector Rodante Arcigal, of the Pasig City police follow-up unit collared Tripoli Jr., assigned at the maintenance unit of the Philippine Army in Fort Bonifacio, Makati City, while visiting Michael at the AFP Medical Center in Quezon City. Michael is recuperating from the six gunshot wounds he sustained in the shootout with Balaysoche in front of the Virgats pubhouse at 22 San Guillermo St., Barangay Buting Sunday morning. He is now pronounced out of danger. Superintendent John Sosito, Pasig City police chief, assigned a 24-hour guard to prevent Michael from escaping.

Sosito said two witnesses positively identified Tripoli and his son as the ones who pumped bullets into Balaysoche and his driver, Wilfredo Francisco. An unidentified male, said to be a companion of the Tripolis, was also killed in the shootout. Records showed that Balaysoche and Francisco rushed to the establishment at around 3:30 a.m. Sunday after a male caller informed Balaysoche of the presence of three armed men who insisted on entering the pub without depositing their firearms.

Sosito said Balaysoche was about to frisk the elder Tripoli for violating the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban but Tripoli Jr. opened fire at the police officer at point blank range.

Severely wounded, Balaysoche managed to return fire, hitting the fleeing Michael six times in the back. Francisco tried to grab the Army surgeant’s firearm but failed. The suspect also shot him right there.

Tripoli’s unidentified companion was hit in the head. His corpse remains unclaimed at the Quioque funeral homes in Pasig City.

Tripoli Jr. snatched Balaysoche’s firearm before fleeing. – Non Alquitran