PNP creates task group to probe murder of Ozamiz City judge

Ozamiz City Executive Judge Edmundo Pintac slumped on the steering wheel of his car (Photo by WENDELL TALIBONG)

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has created a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) to investigate the ambush of an Ozamiz City Regional Trial Court executive judge.

“Hindi lamang sa direktiba ng Pangulo. Kaagad-agad in-authorize na even without the directive. In-organize na ng Region 10 [police the creation of] SITG,” PNP Spokesperson Chief Supt. Benigno Durana Jr. said in a press briefing on Tuesday.

(It’s not just because of the President’s directive. It was immediately authorized even without the directive. Region 10 police already organized the creation of SITG.)

Executive Judge Edmundo Pintac was killed by unidentified assailants on Monday afternoon as he was heading home.

READ: Ozamiz City RTC executive judge killed in ambush

Pintac was said to have handled drugs and firearms cases against Nova Princess and Reynaldo Parojinog Jr., who were arrested in police raids in July 2017.

Durana, however, said police have yet to establish a concrete lead to determine the motive behind the judge’s murder.

He said investigators have yet to coordinate with Pintac’s family as they opted to give the judge’s kin time to mourn.

“At this time I think it is prudent to leave the family space, a little space for them to grieve, before our investigators can sit down with them para matingnan kung meron bang mga (to see if there were) death threats [against the judge],” he explained.

Durana said once police have talked to Pintac’s family, investigators will already be able to figure out the reason for the judge’s killing and possibly even identify the suspects behind it. /kga