Task force to release findings on Castillejos ambush

The Task Force Castillejos will release this week its findings on the ambush on Batanes Gov. Telesforo Castillejos in Pasay City last Sept. 3.

Castillejos sustained gunshot wounds in his nape and right shoulder while his driver, Albert Patimo was hit in the mouth and left shoulder.

The Batanes governor was discharged from the Medical City last week, while Patimo was listed in stable condition in the same hospital.

 Investigators from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Southern Police District (SPD) and the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) are set meet today to determine whether Castillejos was the target of the attack and come out with their recommendations.

“Task Force members will be brainstorming on the aspect of whether there is an intention to kill Gov. Castillejos. The evidence we gathered at the crime scene would guide us on our conclusion,” said Senior Superintendent Ericson Velasquez, head of the CIDG National Capital Region (NCR).

CIDG director Chief Superintendent Raul Castañeda created Task Force Castillejos, headed by deputy for operation Senior Superintendent Benito Estipona, to investigate the incident and immediately arrest the suspect.

Earlier, Velasquez ruled out personal and business rivalry as the motive behind the Castillejos ambush.

He said they are conducting a background investigation on Patimo to determine whether he was the target of the attack.

Velasquez told The Star that the task force would most likely release the outcome of their investigation tomorrow.

The CIDG NCR chief admitted it would be difficult for the task force to file charges against Castillejos’ attacker since neither the governor nor Patimo saw the gunman’s face.

He said they have several witnesses who came forward to offer information but the task force dismissed their testimonies as a “hoax” after a thorough evaluation.

Castillejos insisted that the ambush was politically motivated, but Velasquez said they have no findings yet to support such a conclusion.  – Non Alquitran