Cop is accidental hero in bizarre QC robbery, shootout

By Jeannette Andrade
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 15:56:00 08/16/2008


MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE) An off-duty policeman became an accidental hero Saturday afternoon in a bizarre turn of events in Quezon City in which he fought off an apparent robbery attempt on him, killing the alleged robber in a shootout that proved equally fatal to himself, and unknowingly saving an Indian trader being robbed nearby by another man who was then lynched by a mob.

The “accidental hero” PO1 Benhur Busu-ay, detailed with the Aviation Security Group at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, died while undergoing treatment at the Far Eastern University Hospital after shooting dead suspect Rustan Lorano, of Zapote, Las Piñas City.

The other suspected robber, Ramiro Reyes, 36, of Tanay, Rizal was allegedly mobbed by Busu-ay’s neighbors and stabbed to death.

But PO2 Joseph Diño of the Quezon City Police District Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (QCPD-CIDU) said the people who attacked and killed Reyes were not being helpful because they took the man’s .45 caliber pistol. They also took Lorano’s gun.

Diño said that the chain of events started at around 1:30 p.m. on Republican Avenue in Barangay Fairview. PO1 Busu-ay, aboard a motorcycle, had just arrived at his home inside the Burawin Street compound when Lorano approached him.

Unknown to Busu-ay, Lorano’s cohort was at that time robbing Indian trader Sotanam Singh some 50 meters away.

Diño pointed out that Lorano had approached the aviation cop upon noticing a bulky object Busu-ay’s waist and apparently mistaken him for a messenger he and his companion could rob.

Immediately after Busu-ay identified himself as a policeman, Lorano reportedly drew his .45 caliber pistol and shot the cop. He ran away as Busu-ay drew his .9 mm caliber service pistol and fired back.

The sound of gunfire from Lorano and Busu-ay reportedly caused Reyes, who had just allegedly robbed Singh of P2,000, to scamper inside the Sikap Area parallel to Burawin Street to hide.

Despite having taken five bullets in the body, Busu-ay managed to catch up with Lorano and shot the suspect several times in the body, killing him instantly at the entrance to Sikap Area, said Diño.

Neighbors immediately took the badly wounded officer to the FEU hospital for treatment while other bystanders robbed the fallen robber, taking his .45 caliber pistol.

Busu-ay died several minutes after he was wheeled into the FEU hospital. His wounds were mostly in the chest.

Meanwhile, Reyes was cornered in an alley inside Sikap Area by knife-wielding residents who stabbed him to death. The mob also took his .45 caliber pistol but left untouched the P2,000 that had been allegedly stolen from Singh.

Diño said that both men carried identification cards indicating that they are police civilian volunteers and carried laminated business cards from Philippine National Police Director General Avelino Razon.

Diño pointed out that Reyes had a mission order stating he was a military civilian agent issued by the Army 2nd Infantry Division in Tanay, Rizal. The alleged mission order, he said, was signed by a Lt. Lhogan Cliff Acuril.

Diño said they still had to confirm the validity of the identification cards with the organizations marked on them.

He said investigators will also have to determine the identities of the people who attacked Reyes and took the alleged robbers’ guns.

Scene of the Crime Office personnel recovered several spent .9-mm and .45- caliber spent shells as well as Busu-ay’s service pistol from the scene.