THE gun attacks against Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr. and Batangas barangay captain Vivencio Palo are considered “solved,” said Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. on Monday, March 13, 2023.
Azurin said the ambush of Adiong on February 17 that left him injured and four others killed is considered solve following the arrest of and filing of criminal charges against the suspects.
Three of Adiong’s police security aides and his driver were killed in the incident.
On March 10, police arrested Palawan Salem Macalbo, Naga Dimatangkil Baratomo, and Amirodin Dimantingkal Mandoc, who allegedly perpetrated Adiong’s ambush in Kalilangan, Bukidnon.
Before their arrests, another alleged suspect identified only as “Otin” was killed in a shootout during hot pursuit operations.
Azurin said the suspects were alleged members of the Gandawali Group engaged in various illegal activities such as illegal drugs, robbery, and gunrunning.
In Batangas incident that resulted in the killing of Palo on February 26, Azurin said two suspects identified as Lito Bautista and Rene Boy Carbajosa are now behind bars.
The vehicle they used for the crime was recovered from Carbajosa.
The gunman identified as Allan Edroso remained at large.
Meanwhile, on the case of slain Aparri, Cagayan Vice Mayor Rommel Alameda, Azurin said investigators have identified that business rivalry was the motive in the crime.
"That's one of the motive na lumalabas sa ngayon because business rivalry in the sense na meron kasing ongoing na yung black sand mining. Yun yung matagal na issue sa Cagayan na kung saan itong mga black sand na ito ay binibenta sa mga Chinese," Azurin said.
(That's one of the motives that is coming out right now because business rivalry in the sense that there is something going on like black sand mining. That is the long-standing issue in Cagayan where these black sands are sold to the Chinese.)
"So ito yung isa sa nakikita natin na anggulo because Vice Mayor Alameda had been against sa negosyo na yun na ninegosyo na ibang mga kababayan niya sa Cagayan," he added.
(So this is one of the angles we see because Vice Mayor Alameda had been against that business that some of his compatriots in Cagayan did business with.)
Azurin said the PNP is currently gathering more pieces of evidence to ensure an air-tight case against the suspects. (SunStar Philippines)