Task group formed to probe intel cop’s slay

MANILA, Philippines — The director of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) has ordered the creation of a special investigation task group (SITG) to probe the murder of an intelligence officer killed near the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame on Friday.

“I ordered for the immediate creation of a special investigation task group to look into all possible angles and establish the motive behind the shooting to death of Sergeant Diamzon,” QCPD director Brig. Gen. Joselito Esquivel Jr. said in a statement.

Esquivel was referring to Staff Sergeant Fernando Diamson, an officer of the PNP Intelligence Group (PNP-IG), who was shot to death by two motorcycle-riding gunmen along Col. Bonny Serrano Avenue in Barangay Bagong Lipunan at around 8:50 a.m.

READ: PNP intel cop shot dead near Camp Crame

Diamson was with his colleague, Staff Master Sergeant Ernesto Benviaje, when the gunmen fired. The two were in separate motorcycles, but the latter failed to retaliate since his gun was at his vehicle’s compartment.

Lt. Col. Giovanni Caliao, commander of the QCPD Cubao Police (PS-7), said investigators are verifying the previous cases handled by the slain officer.

“Presently, [we look at the angle that it is] work-related, pero hindi po namin inaalis ‘yung (but we are not omitting) personal motives,” he said in an interview with INQUIRER.net.

Since Diamson works at the PNP-IG, Caliao said it is possible that his death was linked to [his] intelligence work.

Esquivel, meanwhile, assured that the police will get to the bottom of the case.

“Tulad ng ating pangako na tayo ay hindi titigil sa pagtugis ng salarin [ay] tayo ay umaasa sa mabilisang pagkahuli ng mga suspek sa lalong madaling panahon,” he said.

(As we promised, we will not stop chasing the mastermind. We are hoping for the immediate arrest of the suspects.) (Editor: Eden Estopace)