Cop slaying ‘not elections-related’

MABALACAT – Town police said Thursday the slaying of a police official here is not related to the May 10 polls.

Superintendent Rolly Mendoza, town police officer in charge, said the killing of Chief Inspector Manuel Chika is an isolated case and cannot be considered as elections-related violence.

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Mendoza said they are pursuing at least three angles on the case of the police official who was gunned down in Barangay Dapdap here on March 14.

This, despite reports that Chika was actively supporting the campaign of Lyndon Cunanan, the Nacionalista Party’s (NP) mayoralty bet in Magalang town.

Cunanan declined to comment regarding the issue saying they are still conducting an investigation.

Cunanan earlier admitted that Chika is an avid supporter of the political party. Chika accompanied the NP slate in a motorcade in San Isidro, Magalang town a few hours before he was killed, he said.

Chika was killed after two gunmen onboard a motorcycle assaulted him along the Dapdap Road. He was on his way home with a 17-year-old girl at around 8 pm on Sunday when the gunmen attacked him. The girl also received a gunshot wound on the left leg, police said.

The victim sustained several gun shot wounds on different parts of his body.

Mendoza said the victims were on board a three-wheeled All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) at said road which connects Mawaque and Madapdap Resettlement Centers when the victims suddenly appeared and peppered him with bullets using a .9mm pistol.

Witnesses reportedly saw several men on board two motorcycles tailing Chika when he left Madapdap Resettlement Center.

Mendoza said the killing might have something to do with the victim’s former assignment at the Internal Security Office (ISO) and the Central Luzon Drug Rehabilitation Center.

He said Chika was active in the counter insurgency campaign when he was assigned in the ISO.

“He was also active in the fight against prohibited drugs when he was assigned at the drug rehabilitation center,” Mendoza added.

Mendoza refused to elaborate further on the third angle but said that Chika became the chief of a police station in Pulung Maragul, Angeles City.

The Central Luzon Police Office head Chief Superintendent Arturo Cacdac created a special task force to go after the suspects. (Reynaldo G. Navales)