PNP: No kill attempt on life of farmer group’s nominee

- Advertisement -

THERE was no assassination attempt on Magsasaka party-list nominee Lejun dela Cruz, the PNP said yesterday as it belied allegations that policemen threatened the latter’s life. 

The farmers party-list group, in a statement on Sunday, alleged that in a “brazen and alarming display of political violence,” elements of the PNP supposedly “attempted but failed to assassinate” Dela Cruz.

“Instead, Dela Cruz was illegally abducted, aggressively beaten, and is now being held in police custody under questionable circumstances,” the group said

- Advertisement -

In a press briefing at Camp Crame, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo denied the group’s accusation, saying that the policemen visited Dela Cruz in Cainta, Rizal last Sunday to serve two warrants of arrest in relation to murder charges that have been filed against him.

“While serving the warrant of arrest against him, he ran, he pulled out his gun and boarded his vehicle,” Fajardo said, adding that policemen promptly chased Dela Cruz.

During the chase, Fajardo said Dela Cruz hit five vehicles, including a PNP motorcycle.

“There is no truth (to allegations) that there was an assassination attempt against the life of Mr. Dela Cruz. On the country, it was him who fired a gun and hit our policemen,” she said.

She said that due to the incident, a policeman sustained fracture in the pelvis area and is currently confined at a hospital, awaiting surgery.

“Instead of respecting the process, since he knows he has outstanding warrants of arrest, he chose to escape…The good thing is that at the end of the chase, he was arrested,” Fajardo said.

Fajardo said Dela Cruz is now detained at a custodial facility in Marikina City and will be facing additional charges of illegal possession of a firearm, violation of election gun ban, malicious mischief, and frustrated homicide.

Fajardo said Dela Cruz is a former member of the Alex Bongcayao Brigade which she said is involved in gun-for-hire activities.

Author

- Advertisement -

Share post: