Police killed the two alleged gunmen behind the shooting last week of a female provincial prosecutor of Oriental Mindoro in a follow-up operation in Calapan City yesterday.
Police Brig. Gen. Tomas Apolinario, director of the Philippine National Police Region 4-B, said the recovery of the motorcycle used by the gunmen after shooting Mindoro Oriental Provincial Prosecutor Josephine Capio Caranzo served as the breakthrough in the identification of three suspects – two of them were killed in the follow-up operation at around 5 a.m. in Barangay Sapul.
Caranzo was shot and wounded on June 10 in Calapan City. The motorcycle was recovered in Barangay Managpi in Calapan City on June 14.
Police recovered a .45 pistol believed used in the shooting, an official receipt and certificate of registration for a certain Joven Sena Umali, and a pink wallet containing documents of a certain Robert Magboo.
“Umali was arrested in a follow-up operation and it was him who squealed the names of the people who carried out the attack,” Apolinario said.
Apolinario said he immediately ordered a manhunt against Magboo and Edefer Gran after they were tagged by Umali.
Police tracked them down early yesterday morning.
“They immediately fired at our men after seeing them. This led to the shootout,” said Apolinario.
The two died from multiple bullet wounds in the body.
Apolinario said there are strong indications that the shooting of the 49-year-old Caranzo is work-related.
He said they are still conducting an investigation to determine which among the cases handled by Caranzo has something to do with the crime.
“The person we arrested has a little knowledge. What he only knows is the identity of the two other suspects,” said Apolinario.
“Apparently, this is a compartmentalized operation designed to protect the identity of the mastermind. But we will continue the investigation until this case is solved,” he added. (Aaron Recuenco)