PNP forms team to probe killings of local chief execs

CEBU. Police are looking for two important witnesses to the death of Ronda Mayor Mariano Blanco III. The two have been hiding since the incident.
CEBU. Police are looking for two important witnesses to the death of Ronda Mayor Mariano Blanco III. The two have been hiding since the incident.

MANILA (Updated) -- Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde has ordered the creation of a National Investigation Task Group (NITG) to monitor the investigation on the spate of killings involving local chief executives.

In a press conference in Camp Crame on Monday, September 10, Albayalde said the NITG will be headed by the PNP Director for Investigation and Detective Management chief, Police Director Elmo Francis Sarona.

He said the NITG will closely monitor and facilitate national level coordination of all investigative efforts by the different PNP units, offices and Special Investigation Task Group involved in the investigation of the killings of local government officials.

The priority concerns of the group are the recent deaths of Ronda, Cebu Mayor Mariano Blanco and Vice Mayor John Ungab; Tanauan City, Batangas Mayor Antonio Halili; General Tinio, Nueva Ecija Mayor Ferdinand Bote; and Trece Martires City, Cavite Vice Mayor Alex Lubigan.

Ungab, who is also a lawyer, was shot dead on February 19 after attending a court hearing on North Reclamation Area, Cebu City.

Halili, of Tanauan City, Batangas, was shot dead while singing the national anthem during a flag ceremony at the City Hall on July 2. He was shot by a sniper and was killed by a single bullet that pierced through his heart.

On July 3, Bote was gunned down by three unidentified gunmen in front of the National Irrigation Administration office in Cabanatuan City.

Police have arrested two suspects in Bote’s killing, while another surrendered. Two others, including the alleged mastermind, remain at large.

On July 7, three days after he announced to his private circle his intention to run as mayor of Trece Martires City in Cavite, Lubigan and his driver were killed in an ambush.

On September 5, Blanco, Ungab’s uncle, was murdered inside the Ronda municipal hall.

“The SITG investigating the murder of Mayor Blanco is closely looking into politics as possible motive for the murder. Although other possibilities are also being carefully looked into as suggested by strong leads and significant findings,” said Albayalde.

Police Regional Office-Central Visayas head Debold Sinas has ordered the Ronda Police Station to locate the two job order watchmen of Blanco.

Sinas said the two watchmen are vital witnesses who can help identify the four gunmen who barged into Blanco's office and shot the mayor around 1 a.m. of September 5.

Blanco and Halili were both stripped of police powers by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) due to their alleged involvement in illegal drug trade. They were both included in President Rodrigo Duterte’s list of politicians involved in illegal drugs.

Ungab, meanwhile, served as one of the legal counsels of self-confessed drugs lord Kerwin Espinosa, son of former Albuera Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa Jr. who was killed by Criminal Investigation and Detection Group operatives while inside his detention at the Baybay sub-provincial jail.

As to Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña's statement that the number of killings in Cebu has increased since new police officials were assigned in the province, Albayalde said it has no connection at all.

"Una, wala naman sigurong relationship ‘yung bago ang tinalaga like the RD (regional director) assigned in Cebu...Lumaki ‘yung drug problem sa Cebu because nasanay sila ng walang gumagalaw sa mga big-time drug pushers doon,” Albayalde said.

“Remember, Cebu is one of the problematic cities when it comes to illegal drugs. Hindi natin pwede ipagkaila yan... So probably ngayon, nagsipag ‘yung mga pulis natin doon and because there is a standing order, this is the focus of the Duterte administration dito sa war on drugs. Actually, it's not only happening in Cebu, it's all over. It so happened siguro na marami personalities na kailangan ma-arrest and neutralize doon sa Cebu province pero hindi nakatutok doon,” he added.

Sinas was assigned as director of PRO-Central Visayas only in June. (With KAL/SunStar Philippines)

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