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Sunday, October 03, 2004
Dagupan police precinct chief survives ambush
By Fred P. Macaraeg
DAGUPAN CITY -- A top policeman in Dagupan City managed to escape unharmed from an attack on his life Saturday.
Senior Police Officer 4 Alex Corpuz, Police Community Precinct (PCP) 1 chief, was doing patrol work along A.B. Fernandez Avenue around 8 p.m. when he was shot at.
The gunman, who was aboard a motorcycle, missed hitting Corpuz.
Alerted about the incident, Supt. Candito Quijardo, city police chief, immediately deployed policemen to the area.
Responding to the alarm were elements of the mobile patrol car 502 from the police precinct 4 in Bolosan and the Special Weapons and Tactics (Swat) team.
Quijardo said responding policemen were not able to arrest the gunman, who fled after a brief gunfight with Corpuz.
"It could be one of those who have a grudge against him because he had been with the intelligence unit prior his assignment to the PCP," the police chief said.
In a separate interview, Corpuz said he was doing foot patrol alone because his two companions were responding to a vehicular accident.
Corpuz said when he reached Prudential Bank, he saw a truck owned by a fastfood restaurant parked in the area. He said the motorcycle carrying the gunman was hidden from his (Corpuz's) view until he was almost on it.
"As it is my wont, I kept looking back while walking. When I saw him and glanced at him, he suddenly stopped. I continued walking and I saw him drew his gun. He must sensed that I was getting suspicious so he fired at me," he said.
Corpuz said the bullet passed near his right face.
"He alighted from his motorcycle so I withdrew zigzagging while drawing my pistol. He again fired and the bullet passed near my side. I retaliated, firing twice," Corpuz said.
The gunman retreated, leaving his motorcycle, which was still running, behind.
Thinking that the gunman had a backup, Corpuz went into a dark place and entered a stall. He identified himself as a policeman.
People at the stall let him in and decided to close their stall. He asked them to switch off the lights instead.
"My plan was to have the opportunity to call for a backup. After I finished calling, I went out but the bystanders said the suspect was headed towards Fernandez Street," Corpuz said.
When backup policemen arrived, they pursued the gunman who was reportedly headed for Nueva Street.
Corpuz said he believed he knows who is behind the attack. "He is local man who has a grudge against me," he said.
He expressed belief that the gunman is a professional.
Only a live bullet from a caliber .45 pistol had been recovered that night. No spent shells were found.
"Some witnesses said the gun of the suspect jammed while some others said he was fixing the silencer. That is according to the bystanders," Corpuz said.
The motorcycle was impounded. It had no plate number.
Quijardo said they would trace the owner of the vehicle.
When watch repairers opened their stalls Saturday, they discovered bullet holes in their stalls and even recovered empty shells in the area.
(October 3, 2004 issue)
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