Taskforce formed to solve slay of village chief in Nueva Ecija

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija––A special investigation task group (SITG) was created to solve the recent killing of a village chief in Jaen town, a police official said Monday, Nov. 8

Col. Rhoderick Campo, Nueva Ecija police director, said “SITG De Belen” would reinforce the municipal police station’s effort to bring justice to the family of Zoilo de Belen, head of Barangay Lambakin, who was shot by unidentified assailants on Nov. 5

“Kailangang magtulong-tulong sa imbestigasyon,” Campo said in an interview.

Aside from the security camera that captured a black sedan without a license plate, police were also looking for the dashcam videos of vehicles that passed through the crime scene, he said.

According to Campo, the gunmen might have monitored the victim’s routine before the ambush.

De Belen was watering plants at the boundary arch of Lambakin when he was shot multiple times.

Campos said closed-circuit television footage would be submitted to the police’s cybercrime division for enhancement.

He said it could be too early to say that the killing was politically motivated, noting that they were looking into several angles.

Jaen is a perennial area of immediate concern, otherwise known as a “hot spot,” during elections. INQ

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