Task force Delena formed

MANILA, Philippines - A composite team from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Northern Police District (NPD) was formed yesterday to investigate the murder of an aide of Caloocan City Vice Mayor Edgar Erice.

Superintendent Ferdinand del Rosario, NPD investigation division chief, said Task Force Delena, named after Erice’s slain political officer Samuel Delena, immediately started their “24-hour leg work” to gather more tangible information into the case.

“We could not yet divulge any pertinent information regarding our ongoing investigation but Task Force Delena would be looking into all possible angle to uncover the truth behind the case,” Del Rosario told The STAR.

Senior Superintendent Wilson Amper, NPD deputy director for operations, heads the task force.

At around 10:45 a.m. on Tuesday, Delena, 44, was driving a vehicle (JDT-227) bearing Erice’s image and logo, when fired upon by at least two motorcycle-riding gunmen along Phase 5 in Bagong Silang.

Delena died on the way to a hospital due to at least five bullet wounds in the head and body while his companion, Nelda Dioquinio, 42, was hit in the left shoulder and is still undergoing treatment yesterday at the Far Eastern University Hospital.

The victims were reportedly on their way to the house of Merlita Torpoles, Erice’s political coordinator.

Erice said Delena is a “very effective” leader and his death is a big loss, especially in view of his 2013 bid for the city’s top post. He claimed that those behind the killing wanted to “derail” his political plans, but he did not name names.

As this developed, at least 55 members of the National Capital Region Police Office were deployed yesterday to Caloocan City North to help the local police in maintaining peace and order in the area.

“The additional police force would help us in conducting checkpoints in Caloocan City North where we are lacking personnel,” city police chief Senior Superintendent Jude Santos told The STAR in a telephone interview.