Bulacan rookie cop guns down man, hurts 2 others

MARILAO, Bulacan – A 35-year-old resident here was gunned down while two others, including a barangay tanod, were wounded by a rookie police officer following a stone-throwing incident early Tuesday morning.

Senior Supt. Fernando Villanueva, Bulacan police director, said Arnel Dulzura was declared dead on arrival at the Nazarenus Hospital in Meycauayan City, while tanod Amlie Salangsang, 40, and Ian Andante, 19, were shot in the back and arm, respectively, and are now in stable condition in a hospital in Manila.

The suspect, PO1 Arman Canilang, assigned to the San Jose del Monte City police, together with his brothers Anriejayman, 22, and Alvinjay, 32, is now detained at the Marilao municipal jail.

Police said the Canilang brothers earlier had a quarrel with Dulzura who they suspected was the one who hurled stones at them.

The Canilangs told police they were on their way home on board a motorcycle at around 2 a.m. that day when at least 10 men hurled invectives at them without any provocation and then threw stones at them.

Canilang pursued the group near a barangay hall and minutes later, gunshots rang out and the three victims lay bloodied.

Police recovered a government-issued Cal. 9-mm pistol used in the shooting from Canilang.

Villanueva said they would not condone misdeeds by police officers like Canilang who he said must always display self-control and discipline.