Cops’ deaths in Calabarzon clashes probed

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines  – The Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) police office is investigating the deaths of four police officers in recent police operations in the region, officials said over the weekend.

Senior Superintendent Eduardo Garado, deputy regional director for operation, said the superiors of three slain police officers – Police Officer 2 Alvin Asignado, PO1 Ariel Abordo and PO2 Arnel Baral – were ordered to submit an incident report to the regional police’s investigation division.

“The incidents are alarming. We need to determine if there were lapses in the conduct of operations,” Garado said.

Senior Inspector Leo Angelo Cruz Llacer, chief of the General Mariano Alvarez police, was killed in a shootout with suspected hired killers in Barangay Delas Alas, GMA town last month.

One of the suspects, identified as Mando Luminog, was also killed in the firefight while his three companions escaped.

Baral was shot dead by a suspected drug trafficker in Barangay Lumbangan, Nasugbu, Saturday last week.

The following day, Asignado was gunned down while two other police officers – PO1s Jake Villanueva and Billy Corook – were wounded in another shootout with suspected drug traffickers in Barangay Parian, Calamba City.

Abordo was killed by a man who ran amuck at a mall in Sta. Rosa City last Wednesday.

Abordo’s assailant was shot dead by his companion, PO3 Igresol Reynante.