Police identify assailants in NAIA shooting

Police investigators examine the bloodstained pavement at the Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport following an ambush of a southern Philippine town mayor Friday Dec. 20, 2013 at suburban Pasay city south of Manila, Philippines. Labangan Mayor Ukol Talumpa was fatally shot Friday in an attack at Manila’s main airport that also killed his wife and two other people, officials said. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Police have identified the alleged perpetrators in the shooting of Zamboanga del Sur Mayor Ukol Talumpa and three others at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Friday.

Task Force Talumpa Head Superintendent Billy Beltran refused to name, however, the attackers so as not to delay their manhunt operation.

“We have already identified three suspects. One of them was the gunman while the other two served as the lookout,” Talumpa said in Filipino over Inquirer Radio 990AM  on Monday .

“We already have a cartographic sketch to help us in the arrest of the suspects,” he added.

Beltran urged the public to help solve the crime if they have any information, saying the police were only relying on testimonies since the crime scene did not have closed circuit television cameras (CCTV).

The assassination, he said, was planned.

“The gunmen knew the schedule of the mayor and the exact timing of the event,” he said, adding that the police have already developed a motive of the assassination.

The crime, Beltran said, was either politically motivated or related with the mayor’s  strong campaign against illegal drugs in his province.

But he said they are also looking on other angles, including the previous attempts on Talumpa’s life.

Beltran said they will meet this Monday with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to present the result of their initial investigation.

“If the evidence  is sufficient,  then we will file formal complaints against the suspects,” he said.