A MANILA police officer shot dead a traffic enforcer that the cop mistook for a carnapper early morning yesterday along Edsa, in front of the Muñoz market, in Quezon City.
The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) named the fatality as Edgard Follero, 31, a traffic enforcer from the Quezon City Department of Public Order and Safety.
Follero was rushed to the Quezon City General Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.
The suspect, Lt. Felixberto Rapana Tiquil, assigned with the Anti-Carnapping Unit of the Manila Police District, was arrested by operatives of the QCPD after the incident.
Before the shooting incident, Paul Timothy Delos Reyes, a Lalamove motorcycle rider, sought the help of Follero, his friend, after his motorcycle conked out after making a delivery.
At around 3:40 a.m. in front of the Muñoz Market, Tiquil stopped the two after seeing Delos Reyes pushing his motorcycle, with Follero on board.
Tiquil, who was in civilian clothes, and Follero later figured in a heated argument that led the suspect to shoot the victim twice, using his 9 mm pistol.
Delos Reyes told the media that Tiquil accused him and Follero of being carnappers, which he said they denied. He said Tiquil then shot Follero.
QCPD Director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said Tiquil is currently detained at the QCPD’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit inside the QC headquarters at Camp Karingal.
“I already ordered a thorough investigation on the incident to establish the truth,” said Torre.
