PNP News Releases 2005

P N P News Release No. 05-0704
Authority : P/ SR SUPT LEOPOLDO N BATAOIL PNP
Public Information Office, Camp Crame , Quezon City
Telefax: (632) 7255115 Email: information@pnp.gov.ph
Date : Thursday, 07 July 2005

LOMIBAO VOWS SWIFT POLICE ACTION TO GET MAYOR'S KILLERS

PNP Chief, Director General Arturo C Lomibao today relieved of the entire 24-man Mapandan Police Station in Pangasinan following the assassination early last night of the town's Vice Mayor by still unidentified gunmen.

Lomibao flew to Mangaldan first-hour today to personally assess the investigation into the incident and to monitor pursuit operations against the suspects.

Vice Mayor Adolfo Aquino was shot and killed by a lone suspect infront of the Municipal Auditorium at 6:30 PM Wednesday. His driver Victor Villanueva suffered gunshot wounds and later succumbed at a government hospital in Dagupan City .

Lomibao ordered the administrative relief of Mapandan Chief of Police, Chief Inspector Reynaldo Tamundong and 23 other members of the Mapandan Police Station.

In the meantime, the Police Station will be manned by personnel from the 1st Provincial Mobile Group under Chief Inspector Efren Serenilla who will be the concurrent Officer-in-Charge of Mapandan Police Station.

Those relived will undergo a 2-week refresher course. They will also undergo administrative investigation for apparent unsatisfactory police action.

Lomibao was present during the re-enactment by investigators at the crime scene this morning. Later, he visited Aquino's widow Eden and assured her that "no stone will be left unturned" in the investigation of the incident, as he expressed confidence that the case will be solved and the killers arrested in due time.

The PNP Chief instructed PRO-1 Regional Director, Chief Superintendent Alfredo De Vera to organize a Task Force composed of Regional Officers of the CIDG, Crime Lab, Intelligence Group, and Pangasinan Police Provincial Office.

The Task Force will be headed by Superintendent Edgar Basbas, the Pangasinan Deputy Police Director for Operations.

As pieced together during the re-enactment, the gunman. After firing at the victims, escaped towards the Municipal Cemetery leaving behind a red T-shirt and a blue & gray cap.