NPD official slain in ambush

MANILA, Philippines - An official of the Northern Police District (NPD) was killed in an ambush by motorcycle-riding men as he was on his way home in Quezon City Friday night.

Chief Inspector Romeo Ricalde Jr., 40, head of the NPD’s Special Operations Unit (SOU), died on the spot along Heizer street in Barangay Pansol, said Chief Inspector Rodelio Marcelo, head of the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit.

Investigators found 28 cartridges of 5.56mm rifle rounds at the crime scene.

Marcelo said the driver of the motorcycle wore a helmet while the back rider had a bonnet over his head and was armed with an automatic rifle.

According to a witness, the gunmen tailed Ricalde as he was driving his maroon Isuzu Sportivo (NLI-902) home at past 10 p.m. The gunmen strafed Ricalde’s vehicle from behind before quickly fleeing the area.

The witness, after seeing the attack, ran and reported the incident to the barangay officials, who called in the police.

The victim’s widow, Bernadette, told police her husband had just attended an event of the NPD. She said that while they were talking on their cell phones, he told her, “May ililigaw lang ako (I will shake off someone tailing me).”

Marcelo said Ricalde was the head of the NPD’s District Anti-Illegal Drug (DAID) unit before he was reassigned to his latest post two years ago.

He said ambush could have been work-related as the victim’s widow said Ricalde had been receiving death threats even when he was anti-drug unit head.

As special operations unit chief, Ricalde had also reportedly removed several policemen from his own unit, Marcelo said.

The NPD covers the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela.

Unaware

Investigators assigned at the NPD-SOU said they were not aware that Ricalde had been receiving death threats prior to the ambush.

“He would have had someone with him if we know that he was receiving death threats,” an investigator, who requested anonymity, told The STAR yesterday.

The police officer said it is too early to speculate on the motive for the attack. He said it may or may not be related to the cases Ricalde handled in DAID or SOU.

He said SOU handles a number of major cases in northern Metro Manila, including those involving organized crime groups. He refused to provide details on their operations under Ricalde.

Chief Inspector Ronald Perilla, deputy chief of NPD-SOU, was not available for comment yesterday. The NPD leadership has yet to release a statement on Ricalde’s ambush.