Cellphone snatcher shot dead

Don’t ever snatch the mobile phone of a cop. This was the lesson learned too late by an alleged snatcher who was shot dead by PO3 Carmel Gariando after he grabbed the cop’s cellular phone in Paco, Manila Tuesday night.

Gariando, 39, was wounded after the suspect allegedly stabbed him with a knife. He is assigned to the Western Police District (WPD)’s Task Force Manhunt, a unit assigned to serve arrest warrants.

Police described the fatality as between 25 to 28 years old, 5’4" tall, medium-built, fair-complexioned, and with the tattoos "Jet" and "Sputnik." He was wearing a black T-shirt and gray short pants.

The incident took place at 8:45 p.m. Wednesday, at the corner of Pedro Gil and Peñafrancia Streets in Paco, while Gariando and PO3 Henry Legaspi were on board an FX taxi.

As the policemen were stuck in traffic, Gariando pulled out his cell phone to send a text message to a friend.

Pretending to be a passenger, the suspect approached and opened the vehicle’s door then grabbed Gariando’s cell phone. The suspect allegedly waved a fan knife in front of Gariando.

Gariando pulled out his service caliber .45 pistol and fired once, hitting the robber in the body. Although wounded, the robber staggered back, but lunged again, trying to stab Gariando, who fired two more shots, hitting the suspect again in the body. – Cecille Suerte Felipe