PNP to also probe alleged drug link of murdered ex-Cebu town mayor

MANILA, Philippines — Investigation on the murder of a former mayor of Medellin, Cebu will include his alleged links to the illegal drug trade, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde said Thursday.

Albayalde said the regional police have yet to report to him about possible motives in the murder of Ricardo Rodriguez Ramirez, who was killed while under hospital arrest for illegal possession of firearms.

READ: Former Medellin, Cebu mayor shot dead while under hospital arrest

READ: Cache of guns in ex-mayor’s home

“Ang sabi sa amin (They told us), he was formerly included doon sa (in the) drug watchlist, so we will look into this angle also,” Albayalde said in a chance interview.

He also said the regional police will create a Special Investigation Task Group to probe the incident, if needed, given that the fatality is a former mayor.

Ramirez was confined at the Bogo-Medellin Corporation Medical Center in Barangay Luy-a when he was killed. Around fifteen armed men onboard four vehicles arrived at the hospital on Tuesday night, disarmed the guards including personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) securing the former mayor, and seized the cellphones of hospital staff.

Ramirez went to his private room’s toilet upon seeing the armed men. There, he met his violent death.

Albayalde called the incident “shocking,” given the number of armed men involved.

“I am sure this is a criminal gang, and we do not know kung merong atraso itong (former) mayor or wala (if the former mayor has an offense). We have to find that out,” he said.

He said it is possible that BJMP personnel also underestimated the threat against Ramirez’s life.

“Pero tutulungan natin sila (But we will help them). We will investigate this incident,” Albayalde said. (Editor: Katherine G. Adraneda)