GLORIA, Oriental Mindoro – Two junior policemen, one of them is said to be a town police chief, were nabbed after shooting to death a crime watch group official.
Senior Superintendent Christopher C. Birung, provincial director of Oriental Mindoro PNP said the Philippine National Police identified the suspects as Sr. Insp. Magdalino G. Pimentel, Jr., of the First Maneuver Platoon of Oriental Mindoro Police Public Safety Company (PPSC) based in San Teodoro and Inspector Markson S. Almeranez, chief of police of Socorro town in central Mindoro.
The two were arrested after they were tagged in the killing of Zenaida M. Luz, 51, MIMAROPA regional chairman of Citizens Crime Watch (CCW), who was gunned down at about 11:40 p.m. in front of her residence at Barangay Maligaya, Gloria along the national highway.
As soon as police arrived in the area, witnesses pointed to two unidentified men as the culprits.
The suspects immediately escaped through their motorcycle, forcing authorities to give chase until the duo was cornered in a vacant lot along the highway.
Police investigators from Gloria and Pinamalayan MPS recovered from the suspects one Caspian cal. .45 pistol with serial number 910204, a Bersa Thunder 380 with serial number 679021, live ammunitions, one black wig, one face mask and black jacket.
In the crime scene where Luz was killed, police recovered seven empty cartridge of caliber .45.
The two police officials, who both sustained gunshot wounds in their stomach, are presently under hospital arrest at Medical Mission Group Hospital in Calapan City and being guarded by policemen from PPSC and Gloria Municipal Police Station. (JERRY J. ALCAYDE)