Policemen behind Lozada ambush-slay?

A ranking official of the Central Police District said yesterday that operatives of the Philippine National Police-Intelligence Group were responsible for an ambush in Quezon City last Thursday, which killed a 48 year-old hotel worker and wounded two young girls.

According to the official, a certain Inspector Ye, apparently an operative of the PNP-Intelligence Group, told CPD personnel that Fernando Lozada, his daughter Clarissa Frances, 17, and her schoolmate Marian Uson, were victims of "mistaken identity".

Ye reportedly told policemen that he and other PNP operatives were carrying out a "legitimate operation" and that their boss, Senior Superintendent Reynaldo Berroya knew all about it.

Ye said that their group thought the victims were the ones they were supposed to arrest, but that when the three sped off aboard their car, they opened fire – thinking they were trying to escape.

Lozada, Clarissa and Uson were on their way home on board a Mitsubishi Lancer at about 8:20 p.m. On Araneta Avenue, their assailants, who were inside two parked vehicles, flagged them down. – Matthew Estabillo