BY JOSEPH PEDRAJAS
The chief of the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) and his driver were shot to death Monday morning by motorcycle-riding gunmen inside their vehicle in Quezon City.
The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said NCMH chief Dr. Roland Cortez, 61, and his driver, Ernesto dela Cruz, 46, died due to several gunshot wounds.
The victims were found inside a red Toyota Vios with government plate number DAZ 3464 at the corner of Casanova Drive and Tandang Sora Avenue around 7 a.m.
Eight fired cartridge cases and two fired bullets of unknown caliber were recovered at the crime scene.
A tricycle driver who witnessed the incident told police that one of the two gunmen alighted from a motorcycle, knocked on the right-side window of the victims’ car before firing at them.
They then fled towards Commonwealth Ave., the police report added.
Last year, it was reported that Cortez filed graft and malversation charges at the Office of the Ombudsman against another NCMH ranking official and 13 others.
Investigation is still ongoing, police said.
The Department of Health (DoH), in a statement, said that it “is shocked and alarmed at the news of the ambush” of Cortez.
The department described him as “a respected leader who sought to treat clients with utmost dignity.”
“The DoH family extends its deepest condolences to the families of Dr. Roland and Mr. Ernesto and vows to pursue justice for their untimely demise,” the DoH added.
The DoH said that they are already coordinating with the investigation unit of the QCPD “to ensure that the perpetrators are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Based on NCMH website, Cortez took over as chief of the mental health center on Oct. 22, 2018.
He also served as medical center chief of several government hospitals which includes Valenzuela Medical Center, Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center, Amang Rodriguez General Hospital, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, and East Avenue Medical Center. (Joseph Pedrajas)
