CEBU, Philippines - Two policemen and a civilian were tagged in the killing of an intelligence officer, who was shot dead outside a store in Vitu Street at Barangay 2 of La Carlota City, Negros Occidental, Tuesday evening.
The fatality was identified as Police Officer 2 John Gallenero Jr., 32, who was a son of a retired policeman, and assigned to the Intelligence Unit of the La Carlota Police Office.
As of press time, the police kept mum on the case, and have yet to issue a statement after the owner of the vehicle, which the suspects' rented, identified the perpetrators.
Senior Superintendent Jose Velasquez Carillo, deputy director for operation of the Police Regional Office-6, was here in the province yesterday for a case conference on the incident, but he refused to conduct media interviews.
The car owner identified the suspects as PO1s Randy Gelboria and Jacky Aizpuro and civilian Romel Coray, who left their identification cards when they rented the vehicle.
The two policemen were reportedly in the custody of the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office but their companion remained at large.
Gallenero was in a store to a buy softdrink when the suspects, on board a Mitsubishi Adventure, emerged from nowhere and shot him on the head. Investigators recovered from the scene six empty shell casings of an M16 armalite rifle.
The elder Gallenero, saddened by the killing, said his son had been under threat to his life because, as intelligence officer, he monitored criminals and illegal activities like drugs and gambling. (FREEMAN)