Tayabas top cop relieved amid probe on shootout with Sariaya mayor’s son

MANILA, Philippines -– The chief of the Tayabas City Police Station and three police officers involved in the alleged shootout with the son of Sariaya town Mayor Marcelo Gayeta were relieved from their posts, the Quezon Police Provincial Office (PPO) said in a media release on Monday.

Supt. Mark Joseph Laygo and the three police officers — Police Officer 3 Christopher John Siman; Police Officer 1 Perry  Malabaguio; and William Allan Ricamonte — were relieved to allow impartial investigation into the case as ordered by Senior Supt. Osmundo de Guzman, director of the Quezon PPO. Supt. Laygo will be replaced by Supt. Roderick Tonga.

They were all ordered to report at the Quezon police headquarters in Lucena City.

On March 14, a man from a gasoline station in Tayabas City reported to police that two mototcycle-riding gunmen fired twice at him for a yet unknown motive, but missed.

Operatives of the Tayabas City Police Station then responded to the report and were engaged in an alleged gunfight with the two, killing the suspect on the spot. Police later learned that one of the gunmen killed was Christian Gayeta, the 21-year-old son of the Sariaya town mayor.

The Tayabas City Police Station has also requested for autopsy examination and paraffin test on both hands of Christian and his alleged companion, and for information on firearms recovered from the crime scene.

Meanwhile, De Guzman said the police will conduct a thorough investigation and will be fair in handling the case. With reports from Delfin T. Mallari Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon /je