PNP probes alleged involvement of cops in N. Vizcaya ambush

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan

MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said it is now looking into the alleged involvement of police officers in Sunday's ambush in Nueva Vizcaya that killed a town vice mayor in Cagayan and five others.

"The assailants were reportedly clad in police uniform so we are looking at the possibility that either there are police officers involved or they just used police uniforms," PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. told reporters at the sidelines of the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the police force and the Quezon City government on the Revitalized PNP “Kasimbayanan” (Kapulisan, Simbahan, at Pamayanan) at the Quezon City Hall.

Killed in the ambush were Aparri town vice mayor Rommel Alameda and his companions John Duane Alameda, Abraham Ramos Jr., Ismael Nanay, Alexander delos Angeles and Alvin Abel.

The six were aboard a black Hyundai Starex van when a group of six masked individuals in police uniforms gunned them down at around 8:45 a.m. Sunday in Sitio Kinacao in Nueva Vizcaya's Bagabag town. A follow-up operation is underway to track the suspects, Azurin added.

"We are now checking as to how the assailants were able to obtain and use the plate number of an impounded vehicle. Likewise, all available resources of PRO (Police Regional Office) 2 will be utilized in the conduct of the investigation in order to identify and arrest the perpetrators