NEW CHIEF. Outgoing Police Regional Office 10 (Northern Mindanao) Director, Brig. Gen. Lawrence Coop (right), gives the coat of arms of Camp Alagar to the new acting Director, Brig. Gen. Ricardo Layug Jr., during a change of command in Cagayan de Oro City on Tuesday (Oct. 10, 2023). Layug's first day was met with a highway shooting incident in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental, which occurred four hours before the turnover ceremony. (Photo courtesy of PRO-10)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The first day in office of the new acting chief of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 10 (Northern Mindanao) was met with an investigation of an early morning highway shooting in Misamis Oriental that left three dead.
Four hours before the change of command from outgoing PRO-10 Director, Brig. Gen. Lawrence Coop, to acting Director, Brig Gen. Ricardo Layug Jr., in Camp Alagar here Tuesday, the Gingoog City Police Office reported a 4 a.m. shooting incident along the highway of Barangay Anakan.
Maj. Joanne Navarro, PRO-10 spokesperson, said ground investigators initially attributed the shooting to a road rage incident involving the three victims, which included the driver of a six-wheeler truck.
"There was one of the witnesses who heard an argument between the assailants, riding a sedan, and the victims," Navarro said.
She said pieces of evidence were being gathered and closed-circuit television footage from nearby establishments were being reviewed as of this posting.
New chief
Meanwhile, Coop thanked the PRO-10 personnel for their "support and dedication" during his tenure.
He also expressed confidence in the leadership of his successor.
“I offer my unwavering support to my successor, who brings with him a wealth of experience and a dedication to our shared mission, which is to serve and protect. I ask you to offer him the support, loyalty, and dedication that you have shown me throughout my tenure,” he said.
Layug served as the director of the Philippine National Police's (PNP) Engineering Service and as the former chief of the PNP Aviation Security Unit in the National Capital Region.
He was born in Manila and is a member of the PNP Academy's Tagapaglunsad Class of 1993.
In his speech, Layug emphasized the importance of unity, teamwork, and community engagement in achieving the goals of peace and security in the region.
“I encourage everyone to continue building collaboration and dialogue with our stakeholders as they are our partners in improving our services,” he said. (PNA)
