Cop shoots fellow policeman to death after losing in arm wrestling

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) on Tuesday tagged two policemen and a driver as suspects behind the killing of another cop who was earlier reported to have shot himself.

In a statement, QCPD director Police Brigadier General Antonio Yarra identified the two policemen as Police Corporal Sherwin Rebot and Police Corporal Harold Mendoza and the driver as Lorenzo Lapay.

The victim was identified as Police Corporal Higino Wayan, who was assigned at Kamuning Police Station.

One of the suspects Lapay claimed in his first statement that victim Wayan took the service firearms of Rebot, which was left on a table, during their drinking spree in the driver’s rented place in Barangay Commonwealth.

According to him, Wayan pointed the gun on his chest and pulled the trigger that caused his instantaneous death.

But with further probe of QCPD’s Crime Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU), Lapay eventually confessed that Wayan was actually shot by Rebot.

Wayan and Rebot had an arm wrestling while Mendoza was resting. The victim defeated Rebot in the arm wrestling, which prompted Rebot to shoot the victim, according to Lapay.

CIDU subjected all persons involved to paraffin and drug test examination at PNP Crime Laboratory Office in Camp Crame.

The recovered firearms of the suspects were forwarded to PNP Crime Laboratory Field Office for ballistics, cross-matching examination, and gun powder residue examination.

Both police officer suspects will face administrative and criminal charges while the civilian driver will face criminal charges, the QCPD said.

Rebot will be charged for murder and violation of  illegal possession of firearms and ammunition since he was also found to have unlicensed firearms, while Mendoza and Lapay will be charged for murder by conspiracy and obstruction of justice, the QCPD added.—LDF, GMA News