Albayalde orders probe into slay of gun-for-hire suspects in police car

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde has ordered a probe into the killing of two suspected members of gun-for-hire syndicates in a police mobile.

The two suspects were identified as Apolonio Flores and Prince Patrick Cortez, who were arrested on Monday for illegal possession of firearms.

They went through inquest proceedings on Tuesday and were about to be transported back to Station 4 of the Manila Police District in Sampaloc when unidentified gunmen shot them dead.

PO1 Joven Miguel and PO2 Mark De Lima were aboard the police car during the incident.

READ: Gunmen kill 2 suspects being transported in police car

“Titingnan natin iyan kasi sabi nga parang medyo ano [suspicious] ‘yung nangyari,” Albayalde said on Wednesday.

[We will look at it because what happened seemed suspicious.]

“That will be investigated and I have already asked the IAS [Internal Affairs Service] to investigate it and also yung RD ng NCRPO [Regional Director of the National Capital Region Police Office] para imbestigahan at kung bakit nagkaganun,” he said.

[That will be investigated and I have already asked the IAS to investigate it and the RD of the NCRPO to probe why it happened.]

Albayalde said since the suspects were alleged members of a gun-for-hire group they should be considered “high-risk” detainees. /je /atm