MANILA – A robbery suspect was gunned down Sunday morning inside a police precinct in Quezon City after he allegedly attempted to snatch the service pistol of an officer.
Police Station 14 commander Lt. Col. May Genio identified the slain suspect as Jose Lemery Palmares Jr., 33, a resident of Barangay Culiat, according to a report submitted to Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) chief.
Torre said the shooter, Maj. Jun Fortunato, had no other recourse but to fire at the suspect.
“Ginagampanan ng ating kapulisan ang kanilang tungkulin subalit kailangan din nilang protektahan ang kanilang sarili sa anumang kapahamakan kung kaya naman nananawagan kami sa mga suspek na huwag nang magtangkang lumaban pa upang maiwasan ang ganitong insidente (While our policemen are doing their duties, they also have to protect their lives from any danger that's why we appeal to crime suspects not to resist arrest so we can avoid this kind of incident),” he added.
The suspect reportedly robbed on Saturday afternoon a food shop located along Congressional Extension, also in Barangay Culiat, and was arrested early Sunday morning.
Genio said while the suspect was undergoing booking procedure, he suddenly grabbed the service firearm of Staff Sgt. Juderick Latao, resulting in a scuffle.
Seeing the commotion, Fortunato pulled out his service firearm and shot the suspect.
Palmares was taken to the Quezon City General Hospital but was declared dead on arrival at about 6:14 a.m. (PNA)
