ILOILO CITY, Philippines – A controversial police officer was shot dead at a beach resort in Hinigaran town in Negros Occidental on Sunday.
Reports said Senior Police Officer 1 Rex delos Reyes was killed by two gunmen at the Bulobitoon Beach Resort in Barangay Miranda.
The suspects, along with three other companions who served as lookouts, escaped in a Nissan Urvan, but were intercepted in La Castellana town.
They were identified as Michael Jancilan, 37; Openiano Eballa, 51; Roger Someros, 28; Vicente Bacaran, 30; and Eduardo Montaño Arsola, 43.
Police reportedly seized from the suspects a pistol, four hand grenades and assorted ammunition.
Reports said Jancilan was tagged in the killing of Police Officer 1 Rizaldy Henarios, 27, and Freddie Animas, 47, at a wake in Pavia town in Iloilo in June 2013.
Hinigaran police commander Chief Inspector Lino Dalisay said they have yet to determine the motive for the killing of Delos Reyes, who first hogged the headlines when he opposed an order from the Philippine National Police transferring him to Mindanao and for charges involving illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
Delos Reyes was dropped from the PNP roster, but managed to get a reinstatement.
Records from the Police Regional Office 6 showed he was relieved from the Regional Public Safety Battalion in December 2012 and was reassigned to the PNP Intelligence Group.