Hit man in Ecija mayor's slay killed

MANILA, Philippines - A retired policeman, tagged as the hit man in the killing of the mayor of Carranglan, Nueva Ecija last Feb. 4, was killed when he shot it out with a police raiding team in the province early yesterday morning, authorities said.

Chief Superintendent Charles Calima Jr., Intelligence Group director of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said his men also brought for questioning five alleged handlers of the slain suspected hit man, Lorenzo Bote.

Calima identified the five as Teodoro Ilagan and his wife Juanita, Leonardo Payabyab, Joel Diaz and PO3 Teodorick Ilagan, assigned to the Regional Intelligence Division of the Central Luzon police.

Police confiscated a grenade, a .45-caliber pistol and a .40-caliber Glock pistol during the raid in Barangay San Cristobal, Licab, Nueva Ecija.

PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome said the operation was part of the PNP campaign to ensure honest, orderly and peaceful elections in 2013.

Calima quoted witnesses as saying that Ilagan’s group was allegedly behind numerous unsolved killings in Central Luzon and Metro Manila, including the assassination of Carranglan Mayor Restituto Abad and the wounding of his driver-bodyguard, Army Pfc. Satty Duclayan, last Feb. 4.

In a follow-up operation, the raiding team swooped down on the house of Ilagan’s son in Cabanatuan City and seized a 9-mm Taurus and a .45-caliber pistol.     – With Ric Sapnu