Laguna lawman, 2 drinking pals slain

MANILA, Philippines - A Laguna policeman, a retired Army colonel and their drinking buddy were shot dead by three men in Calamba City, Laguna Thursday night.

SPO2 Julian Piamonte, 49, sustained gunshot wounds in the head and different parts of the body and died on the spot.

Retired Army colonel Rolando Siyang, 56, and drinking partner Rogelio Laririt, 56, sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died at the Jose Rizal Memorial Hospital.

Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, Laguna police director, created Task Force Piamonte to solve the case.

Cruz admitted they have yet to identify the three attackers, saying though that probers have gathered witnesses who could identify them if seen again.

In his report to Cruz, Superintendent Nestor de la Cueva, Calamba City police chief, said Piamonte, Siyang and Laririt were engaged in a drinking bout at Pamana Homes in Barangay Bucal when they were shot with an Armalite rifle and handguns.

Cruz said the gunmen casually walked away from the scene and boarded two vehicles at a street corner.

Scene of the crime operatives found at least 50 spent shells, slugs and metal fragments at the crime scene.

Investigators said Piamonte was involved in a shooting incident over parking space in Calamba City last November which left a woman dead.

Piamonte was able to settle the case out of court with the victim’s relatives, police said.   – With Ed Amoroso