Riding-in-tandem men shot cop dead

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines  — A 54-year-old policeman was gunned down by still unidentified riding-in-tandem men at Barangay 2 of EB Magalona town in Negros Occidental last Wednesday.

The fatality was identified as Senior Police Officer 4 Roger Canete of sitio Patyo in that barangay and was assigned to the Silay City Police Station.

Police said Canete was driving his owner-type jeep on his way home when he was waylaid by the two assailants and shot him with an M16 rifle.

Canete sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to a hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Police investigators recovered from the scene of the crime 10 empty shells of M16 riffle, and are now probing the incident leading to the identity of the attackers.

Senior Superintendent Milko Lirazan, director of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, said the incident was job-related, and he assured the public that the police will do its best to serve justice to the victim and his family.

Lirazan said there were already leads on the identity of the assailants, adding that the incident was related to illegal drugs of which the victim had been actively fighting out.

Superintendent Rosauro Francisco, chief of Silay City Police, said his men and Canete have intensified their campaign against the illegal activities in the city. but he did not expect Canete would be the target.

Francisco said Canete was set to retire next year and he was a big loss to the Silay Police force. "He was a friendly person and he served as father to his colleagues at the station."

Canete was the second policeman in the province who was shot dead because of illegal drugs. The first one was PO2 Jan Gallenero Jr., 32, of La Carlota City, who was killed on January 27 by his fellow colleagues, PO1s Jackie Aizpuro and Randy Gelboria; civilian Randy Coray and other five unidentified suspects.  (FREEMAN)