PNP axes Nueva Vizcaya police execs for ‘lapses’ in probe of Malayao slay

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde has ordered the relief of the director of the Nueva Viscaya police and the chief of Aritao police for “apparent lapses” in investigating the murder of a National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultant.

In a statement on Friday, PNP spokesperson Senior Supt. Bernard Banac said Albayalde has ordered the relief of Senior Supt. Jeremias Aglugub, director of the Nueva Viscaya Police Provincial Office, and Chief Insp. Geovanni Cejes, chief of the Aritao Municipal Police Station.

According to Banac, evidence taken from the scene where NDFP peace consultant Randy Felix Malayao was killed were allegedly mishandled by investigators.

Malayao was shot dead as he was sleeping inside a bus in Aritao, Nueva Viscaya on Wednesday.

READ: NDFP consultant-columnist shot dead in Nueva Vizcaya

Chief Supt. Jose Mario Espino, director of the Cagayan Police Regional Office will designate the  replacements of the two relieved officials, said Banac.  /muf