PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr yesterday said the opposition of Aparri, Cagayan vice mayor Rommel Alameda to black sand mining in Cagayan may have led to the ambush that killed him and five of his companions in Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya last February 19.
“Investigators have uncovered substantial leads that could establish the possible motive and possible mastermind behind the attack,” Azurin told a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo.
Azurin said investigators were able to find out that “threats had been made on Vice Mayor Alameda that point to business rivalry as one of the possible motives,” he said.
“That’s (business rivalry) one of the motives that came. Business rivalry in the sense there is an ongoing black sand mining there. That has been an issue in Cagayan for some time now, where black sand is being sold to the Chinese,” said Azurin.
Azurin said Alameda has been against black sand mining, which is the business of some people in Cagayan.
Azurin said the PNP has identified some people of interest in the case but did not identify them, pending the probe.
“We are just trying to solidify the evidence so that it will stand in court,” said Azurin.
As to the exact number of persons of interest they are pursuing, Azurin said: “Can we answer that later when the cases are already filed? But definitely we already have persons of interest.”
Alameda was on the way to Metro Manila to attend the election of a new set of officers of the Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines when his van was ambushed by assailants wearing police uniforms in Bagabag.
The attack killed Alameda and his companions, identified as Alexander Agustin Delos Angeles, Alvin Dela Cruz Abel, Abraham Dela Cruz Ramos, John Duane Banag Almeda, and Ismael Nanay
The vehicle used in the attack, a Mitsubishi Adventure van, was found the following day in Solano, Cagayan. The van was bearing a government plate assigned to an impounded pick-up truck owned by the Nueva Vizcaya State University.
A suspect in the murder of former Trece Martires, Cavite vice mayor Alex Tubigan was wounded when he resisted arrest last Friday, according to Antipolo City police.
Col. Dominic Baccay, Rizal PNP provincial director, identified the suspect as Ariel Paiton, a resident of Sitio Pantay in Barangay San Jose, Antipolo City.
Paiton was brought to the Rizal Provincial Hospital System with a gunshot wound in his right arm. He faces murder and frustrated murder charges.
Seized from Paiton was a .45 caliber pistol with two extra clips and 16 bullets.
Baccay said a joint operation team from Cavite, Antipolo, and Rizal PNP went to the house of Paiton last Friday at around 6:49 p.m. to serve a warrant of arrest.
The team was greeted with gunfire as they approached Paiton’s house, forcing them to fire back. Paiton was later arrested.
Tubigan was shot dead on the Tree-Indang Road in Barangay Luciano, Trece Martires on July 7, 2018.
The Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs postponed the hearing set this Wednesday on the series of political violence in the country, including the March 4 attack that killed Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and eight others.
Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa, who chairs the panel, said no definite date has been set on when the hearing will be held.
Dela Rosa’s committee has been tasked by the Senate leadership to conduct a hearing on the series of political killings that have rocked the country.
Dela Rosa said they will, in the meantime, allow the PNP to continue its investigation before his committee conducts a hearing.
“No definite date yet. If our prosecutors can file the cases within this week, then we can schedule the hearing next week before the Senate break,” Dela Rosa said.
“This is to give ample time to the PNP and DOJ to file airtight cases against the suspects. We don’t want to divide their attention,” he added.
Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito supported Dela Rosa’s decision, saying it is critical to allow the PNP, DOJ and the National Bureau of Investigation to complete their investigation.
“I agree with Sen. Bato, he is right. We cannot compromise while the investigation is ongoing. Let’s allow our authorities to do their job first,” Ejercito said.
Ejercito also reiterated his call for the DOJ to look into the circumstances on why five of six of Degamo’s police escorts did not report for duty on the day he was assassinated.
Last Sunday, Speaker Martin Romualdez asked for an investigation on the absence of the five police escorts of Degamo despite the threat to his life. — With Ashzel Hachero and Christian Oineza
