Arrest of road rage suspect elates Estomo
NATIONAL Capital Region Police Office director Major General Jonnel C. Estomo yesterday cited the importance of immediate coordination between territorial police units in catching fleeing criminals and other law offenders.
He particularly referred to a road rage incident on Airport Road in Barangay Baclaran, Parañaque City, around 9:30 a.m. last February 4 which triggered a hot pursuit operation that ended up in Imus City in Cavite.
Two suspects in the road rage incident identified as Zarwin Hernandez, 31; and Hanwar Almarez, 30, were arrested and are now facing criminal charges, the Metro Manila police chief said.
An investigation showed that the two were on board a white Ford Ranger with plate no. ABD 6320 when the pick-up bumped the right portion of a Philippine National Police Forensic Group Scene-of-the-Crime-Operations or SOCO mobile car parked in front of their office along Airport Road.
Two responding policemen identified as Staff Sergeant Belmar delos Santos and Corporal Arnold Laurente tried to flag down the heavily-tinted vehicle but the driver refused to stop and tried to bump Delos Santos.
One of the two also reportedly slightly opened the vehicle’s window and poked a gun at the officers prompting Delos Santos to fire a shot at the left tire of the pick-up to immobilize it.
The suspects however made good their escape towards the direction of Cavite. The two policemen immediately call for backup and conduct a hot pursuit operation while asking their colleagues to coordinate with the Cavite police force.
The two suspects were eventually flagged down for another traffic violation in Imus City by officers who spotted their vehicle with a bullet hole. A magazine containing four live ammunition was also recovered inside the vehicle as officers searched for the gun used by the suspects.
