Intel cop gunned down in GenSan

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- A police intelligence officer here was shot dead by unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen while reportedly on his way to an operation on Monday night.

Senior Supt. Raul Supiter, city police director, identified the victim as Police Officer (PO) 3 Joseph Allaga Pequierda, who was assigned to the city police's mobile force company (CMFC).

Supiter said Pequierda had just left his home in Salangsang Village, Barangay San Isidro aboard a motorcycle driven by a friend when he was waylaid by two suspects riding-in-tandem on a motorcycle at around 6:40 p.m.

A police report said the slain cop was having dinner at their house when he was called to join an operation.

Pequierda asked his friend, who reportedly doubles as a police asset, to drive him to an undisclosed area.

Upon reaching the corner of Guinto Street and Mabuhay Road in the same village, he said one of the suspects shot Pequierda several times.

"They (suspects) appeared to have tailed the victim from his house," PO1 Christoper Larano, the case investigator, told reporters.

Citing accounts from witnesses, he said the gunman wore a white tee-shirt, ball cap, eyeglasses, and black mask.

Pequierda's driver, who was unhurt in the attack, said he heard at least four gunshots coming from their rear portion.

He said the victim then slumped and dropped from the motorcycle, while the suspects immediately fled from the scene aboard a black Honda XRM motorcycle.

Larano said they are looking into a number of angles, including personal grudge and work-related circumstances, as possible motive.

Supiter said he has assigned a team to dig deeper into the incident, adding "those responsible should be identified and held accountable." (PNA)