Police form group to probe killing of city council bet in Pampanga
CAMPAIGN STYLE | City of San Fernando council bet Alvin Mendoza, who was killed on Saturday, gathered small groups during sorties as shown in this undated photo. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines — The police in this city created a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) to solve the killing of a village chief running as councilor in this Pampanga capital under the political party of President Rodrigo Duterte.
The SITG was formed for the “speedy identification and apprehension of the suspects” on Saturday’s death of Alasas village chief Alvin Mendoza, said Brig. Gen. Matthew Baccay, Central Luzon police director, in a statement.
Mendoza was driving his car when he was waylaid by assailants riding on two motorcycles in front of a private residential subdivision in the boundaries of this city and Bacolor town shortly before 7 a.m. on Saturday.
The first gunman, who was riding pillion on the motorcycle driven by another person, got down and fired his gun at Mendoza eight to 10 times at close range. The second assassin, who came riding in another motorcycle, shot at the glass window thrice.
Contrary to earlier reports, Mendoza was alone in his vehicle as he had dropped his family members off somewhere else before the 6:50 a.m. attack was carried out.
Family silent
The family of Mendoza has chosen silence, preferring to mourn his death first.
The police on Sunday had yet to release the result of the autopsy on Mendoza, which was finished at past 10 p.m. on Saturday, an Inquirer source said. The SITG has since been gathering evidence and witnesses, said Police Col. Alvin Consolacion, provincial police chief and SITG head.
Mendoza’s allies in Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, including mayoralty candidate Vilma Caluag, have appealed for justice.
Former Mayor Oscar Rodriguez, credited for mentoring Mendoza in good governance, said his protege did not “deserve to be killed because he is a good man.”
Mendoza, 53, held Barangay Assembly Day yearly for transparency and accountability, posting photos and videos of such events on his social media accounts.
In 2020, Alasas placed second among 36 villages in the search for model barangays on ecological solid waste management. The program and projects of Alasas were crafted using the balanced scorecard introduced by Institute for Solidarity in Asia.
—TONETTE OREJAS
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