Task force formed on killing of ex-US cop in Pampanga

ANGELES CITY, Philippines  – Another police task force was created yesterday to look into the killing of a 63-year-old retired US policeman who was shot dead in Barangay Pampang here at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday.

City police director Senior Superintendent Danny Bautista told The Star he now heads Task Group Basham which was created yesterday to solve the killing of James Basham who died from a lone gunshot wound fired by a still unidentified suspect who fled on a motorcycle driven by an accomplice.

Chief Inspector Onnil de la Peña, chief of police Station 4, which covers Pampang, said the victim’s Filipino wife Jen told probers her husband was a retired cop in the US. The wife also said that apparently, her husband’s wallet containing identification cards was missing after the shooting.

Bautista said that his new task force, composed of representatives from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and cops from Police Station 2 in Barangay Pampang, remained at a loss on the identity and motive of Basham’s killers.

He noted that the two suspects were wearing full motorcycle helmets when one of them shot Basham in the back as the victim was about to hop into his motorcycle near the Pampang public market.

 “We are still scouting for witnesses who might have seen any or both of the suspects without helmets as they waited for their target somewhere in the area,” Bautista said. Their getaway motorcycle was marked “For Registration.”

De la Peña said that while witnesses did not see the faces of the helmeted suspects, they described the suspects as both chubby and short.

Bautista said Basham had been staying in Angeles for the past three years and lived with his Filipino wife in Barangay Sto. Cristo here.

Probers still had to get more statements from the wife who seemed too distraught yesterday over the murder of her husband.

Bautista said that Basham was shot at the back and that the bullet hit his heart. The victim was pronounced dead upon arrival at the Ospital ning Angeles where bystanders rushed him immediately after the shooting.

Last July, three foreigners, as well as six of their Filipino companions, were shot dead in separate incidents in this city. The killings led to the arrest of suspect Mark Dizon who is now on trial for multiple murder and robbery. - With Ric Sapnu