Police probing NPA link in anti-pork barrel advocate’s slay
Police are now looking into the possibility that the communist New People’s Army may have had a hand in the cold-blooded murder of anti-pork barrel advocate Quintin “Ting” Paredes San Diego in Aurora province on Saturday.
This angle in the investigation was confirmed by Central Luzon police director Chief Supt. Rudy Lacadin, in a phone interview with the Inquirer on Tuesday.
Lacadin said San Diego owned various properties, which includes a farm in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija, and the fledgling resort in Aurora where he was killed.
Lacadin said the special investigation task group convened to probe the case is now studying the murder angle “involving properties,” based on statements made to police by San Diego’s property custodian.
Asked if this was related to reports that the New People’s Army had been hounding San Diego for revolutionary tax, Lacadin confirmed: “That’s it. According to his [property caretaker], there were demands.”
Lacadin said San Diego was in Aurora to supervise the construction of his resort in Barangay Caragsacan.
San Diego had just met with his workers, and was walking back to his cottage at the Maligaya Resort when he was approached and shot four times in the head by two still unidentified male assailants on Saturday afternoon.
Lacadin said a composite facial sketch of the gunman is expected to be released today [Wednesday].
Lacadin did not yet dismiss other angles in the murder, as police have yet to speak with San Diego’s family who are unavailable due to his wake.
San Diego, 74, is known as a staunch advocate against the Priority Development Assistance Fund, and the founding chair of the Movement Against Political Dynasties.
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