MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday mentioned it’s now wanting into the alleged involvement of cops in Sunday’s ambush in Nueva Vizcaya that killed a city vice mayor in Cagayan and 5 others.
“The assailants were reportedly clad in police uniform so we are looking at the possibility that either there are police officers involved or they just used police uniforms,” PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. informed reporters on the sidelines of the signing of the memorandum of settlement (MOA) between the police power and the Quezon City authorities on the Revitalized PNP “Kasimbayanan” (Kapulisan, Simbahan, at Pamayanan) on the Quezon City Hall.
Killed within the ambush have been Aparri city vice mayor Rommel Alameda and his companions John Duane Alameda, Abraham Ramos Jr., Ismael Nanay, Alexander delos Angeles and Alvin Abel.
The six have been aboard a black Hyundai Starex van when a gaggle of six masked people in police uniforms gunned them down at round 8:45 a.m. Sunday in Sitio Kinacao in Nueva Vizcaya’s Bagabag city.
A follow-up operation is underway to trace the suspects, Azurin added.
“We are now checking as to how the assailants were able to obtain and use the plate number of an impounded vehicle. Likewise, all available resources of PRO (Police Regional Office) 2 will be utilized in the conduct of the investigation in order to identify and arrest the perpetrators of this heinous crime. A Special Investigation Task Group has been activated to fast-track the solution of the case,” mentioned Azurin.
Azurin mentioned Alameda was touring to Metro Manila to attend the elections of the Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines when the assault occurred.
“So we condole with the family of vice mayor Almeda and we will ensure that we will continue to hunt the perpetrators of this crime,” Azurin mentioned.
Bagabag city police chief Maj. Oscar Abrogena mentioned the suspects used a white Mitsubishi Adventure van bearing plate quantity SFN 713.
“Based on the statements of bystanders, there were more or less six suspects. They (suspects) waited for the victims. They opened fire upon arrival of the victims in the area,” Abrogena mentioned.
Police mentioned the suspects have been armed with rifles and handguns. (PNA)