Cop charged with enforcer’s murder

MANILA, Philippines — A policeman who allegedly shot a traffic enforcer in Quezon City has been charged with murder before the prosecutor’s office, an official said yesterday.

Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, Quezon City Police District director, said in an interview aired over Teleradyo that the QCPD has filed a charge of murder against Lt. Felixberto Tiquil, a member of the Manila Police District (MPD) anti-car theft unit.

“We have filed a murder case because we do not see any justification in what he did,” Torre said in Filipino.

Tiquil is accused of gunning down Edgar Follero, 32, a traffic enforcer of the Quezon City department of public order and safety, after he mistook the latter as a motorcycle thief along with his companion in Barangay Veterans Village on Wednesday.

Probers said Follero – who was not in uniform – was helping his friend, delivery rider Paul Timothy delos Reyes, repair his motorcycle after it bogged down along EDSA due to a mechanical problem.

Follero and Delos Reyes had just pushed the motorcycle to the side of the highway when Tiquil approached them, accused them of being motorcycle thieves, then fired twice at Follero, hitting the enforcer in the chest and arm.

Folloero still managed to drive toward a group of policemen at the corner of EDSA and Roosevelt Avenue, where he collapsed. He was declared dead on arrival at the Quezon City General Hospital.

Tiquil was subjected to inquest proceedings before the Quezon City prosecutor’s office on Thursday. Torre said the policeman is being held at Camp Karingal’s central custodial facility.

Tiquil’s unit at the MPD did not have an operation in Quezon City at the time of the incident, according to Torre.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte offered her sympathies to Follero’s family.

“Edgar was known to be a helpful, friendly and dutiful member of the Task Force for Transport and Traffic Management. Indeed, his last minutes were spent assisting someone in need, specifically a delivery rider whose motorcycle had broken down,” she said.

Belmonte assured the Follero family “and all peace-loving QCitizens that we will do everything to ensure that justice will be served without any prejudice.”