(Photo courtesy of PNP Public Information Office)
MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said it is now looking into the alleged involvement of police officers in Sunday's ambush in Nueva Vizcaya that killed a town vice mayor in Cagayan and five 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. told reporters at the sidelines of the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the police force and the Quezon City government on the Revitalized PNP “Kasimbayanan” (Kapulisan, Simbahan, at Pamayanan) at the Quezon City Hall.
Killed in the ambush were Aparri town vice mayor Rommel Alameda and his companions John Duane Alameda, Abraham Ramos Jr., Ismael Nanay, Alexander delos Angeles and Alvin Abel.
The six were aboard a black Hyundai Starex van when a group of six masked individuals in police uniforms gunned them down at around 8:45 a.m. Sunday in Sitio Kinacao in Nueva Vizcaya's Bagabag town.
A follow-up operation is underway to track 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," said Azurin.
Azurin said Alameda was traveling to Metro Manila to attend the elections of the Vice Mayors' League of the Philippines when the attack happened.
“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 said.
Bagabag town police chief Maj. Oscar Abrogena said the suspects used a white Mitsubishi Adventure van bearing plate number 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 said.
Police said the suspects were armed with rifles and handguns. (PNA)
